WO2016115320A1 - Nucleic acid nanostructructures with core motifs - Google Patents

Nucleic acid nanostructructures with core motifs Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2016115320A1
WO2016115320A1 PCT/US2016/013365 US2016013365W WO2016115320A1 WO 2016115320 A1 WO2016115320 A1 WO 2016115320A1 US 2016013365 W US2016013365 W US 2016013365W WO 2016115320 A1 WO2016115320 A1 WO 2016115320A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sna
oligonucleotides
oligonucleotide
core
inhibitory
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2016/013365
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2016115320A8 (en
Inventor
Weston Daniel
Scott MIX
Original Assignee
Exicure, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Exicure, Inc. filed Critical Exicure, Inc.
Priority to AU2016206658A priority Critical patent/AU2016206658A1/en
Priority to JP2017537260A priority patent/JP2018503377A/en
Priority to CA2973702A priority patent/CA2973702A1/en
Priority to KR1020177022221A priority patent/KR20170104550A/en
Priority to CN201680011892.2A priority patent/CN108064295A/en
Priority to US15/543,728 priority patent/US10704043B2/en
Priority to EP16737865.2A priority patent/EP3247796A4/en
Publication of WO2016115320A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016115320A1/en
Publication of WO2016115320A8 publication Critical patent/WO2016115320A8/en
Priority to US16/883,756 priority patent/US20200339989A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/11—DNA or RNA fragments; Modified forms thereof; Non-coding nucleic acids having a biological activity
    • C12N15/111—General methods applicable to biologically active non-coding nucleic acids
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/11—DNA or RNA fragments; Modified forms thereof; Non-coding nucleic acids having a biological activity
    • C12N15/113—Non-coding nucleic acids modulating the expression of genes, e.g. antisense oligonucleotides; Antisense DNA or RNA; Triplex- forming oligonucleotides; Catalytic nucleic acids, e.g. ribozymes; Nucleic acids used in co-suppression or gene silencing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
    • A61K47/51—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent
    • A61K47/54—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the non-active ingredient being a modifying agent the modifying agent being an organic compound
    • A61K47/543—Lipids, e.g. triglycerides; Polyamines, e.g. spermine or spermidine
    • A61K47/544—Phospholipids
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
    • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
    • A61K47/69—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit
    • A61K47/6905—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a colloid or an emulsion
    • A61K47/6911—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a colloid or an emulsion the form being a liposome
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/14—Particulate form, e.g. powders, Processes for size reducing of pure drugs or the resulting products, Pure drug nanoparticles
    • A61K9/141—Intimate drug-carrier mixtures characterised by the carrier, e.g. ordered mixtures, adsorbates, solid solutions, eutectica, co-dried, co-solubilised, co-kneaded, co-milled, co-ground products, co-precipitates, co-evaporates, co-extrudates, co-melts; Drug nanoparticles with adsorbed surface modifiers
    • A61K9/146—Intimate drug-carrier mixtures characterised by the carrier, e.g. ordered mixtures, adsorbates, solid solutions, eutectica, co-dried, co-solubilised, co-kneaded, co-milled, co-ground products, co-precipitates, co-evaporates, co-extrudates, co-melts; Drug nanoparticles with adsorbed surface modifiers with organic macromolecular compounds
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
    • A61P1/04—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system for ulcers, gastritis or reflux esophagitis, e.g. antacids, inhibitors of acid secretion, mucosal protectants
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P1/00—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
    • A61P1/16—Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system for liver or gallbladder disorders, e.g. hepatoprotective agents, cholagogues, litholytics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P11/00—Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P11/00—Drugs for disorders of the respiratory system
    • A61P11/06—Antiasthmatics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P17/00—Drugs for dermatological disorders
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P17/00—Drugs for dermatological disorders
    • A61P17/06—Antipsoriatics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P19/00—Drugs for skeletal disorders
    • A61P19/02—Drugs for skeletal disorders for joint disorders, e.g. arthritis, arthrosis
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P19/00—Drugs for skeletal disorders
    • A61P19/04—Drugs for skeletal disorders for non-specific disorders of the connective tissue
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
    • A61P25/04—Centrally acting analgesics, e.g. opioids
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P29/00—Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P29/00—Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
    • A61P29/02—Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID] without antiinflammatory effect
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P3/00—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P3/00—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism
    • A61P3/08—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism for glucose homeostasis
    • A61P3/10—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism for glucose homeostasis for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
    • A61P31/12—Antivirals
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
    • A61P31/12—Antivirals
    • A61P31/14—Antivirals for RNA viruses
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
    • A61P37/02—Immunomodulators
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
    • A61P37/02—Immunomodulators
    • A61P37/06—Immunosuppressants, e.g. drugs for graft rejection
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P41/00—Drugs used in surgical methods, e.g. surgery adjuvants for preventing adhesion or for vitreum substitution
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P7/00—Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P7/00—Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
    • A61P7/04—Antihaemorrhagics; Procoagulants; Haemostatic agents; Antifibrinolytic agents
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P7/00—Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
    • A61P7/06—Antianaemics
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P9/00—Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/87—Introduction of foreign genetic material using processes not otherwise provided for, e.g. co-transformation
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/87—Introduction of foreign genetic material using processes not otherwise provided for, e.g. co-transformation
    • C12N15/88—Introduction of foreign genetic material using processes not otherwise provided for, e.g. co-transformation using microencapsulation, e.g. using amphiphile liposome vesicle
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
    • A61K9/14—Particulate form, e.g. powders, Processes for size reducing of pure drugs or the resulting products, Pure drug nanoparticles
    • A61K9/141—Intimate drug-carrier mixtures characterised by the carrier, e.g. ordered mixtures, adsorbates, solid solutions, eutectica, co-dried, co-solubilised, co-kneaded, co-milled, co-ground products, co-precipitates, co-evaporates, co-extrudates, co-melts; Drug nanoparticles with adsorbed surface modifiers
    • A61K9/143—Intimate drug-carrier mixtures characterised by the carrier, e.g. ordered mixtures, adsorbates, solid solutions, eutectica, co-dried, co-solubilised, co-kneaded, co-milled, co-ground products, co-precipitates, co-evaporates, co-extrudates, co-melts; Drug nanoparticles with adsorbed surface modifiers with inorganic compounds
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N15/00—Mutation or genetic engineering; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification; Use of hosts therefor
    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/11—DNA or RNA fragments; Modified forms thereof; Non-coding nucleic acids having a biological activity
    • C12N15/113—Non-coding nucleic acids modulating the expression of genes, e.g. antisense oligonucleotides; Antisense DNA or RNA; Triplex- forming oligonucleotides; Catalytic nucleic acids, e.g. ribozymes; Nucleic acids used in co-suppression or gene silencing
    • C12N15/1138—Non-coding nucleic acids modulating the expression of genes, e.g. antisense oligonucleotides; Antisense DNA or RNA; Triplex- forming oligonucleotides; Catalytic nucleic acids, e.g. ribozymes; Nucleic acids used in co-suppression or gene silencing against receptors or cell surface proteins
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/10—Type of nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/11—Antisense
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/31—Chemical structure of the backbone
    • C12N2310/315—Phosphorothioates
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/31—Chemical structure of the backbone
    • C12N2310/318—Chemical structure of the backbone where the PO2 is completely replaced, e.g. MMI or formacetal
    • C12N2310/3183—Diol linkers, e.g. glycols or propanediols
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/34—Spatial arrangement of the modifications
    • C12N2310/341—Gapmers, i.e. of the type ===---===
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/35—Nature of the modification
    • C12N2310/351—Conjugate
    • C12N2310/3515—Lipophilic moiety, e.g. cholesterol
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N2320/00—Applications; Uses
    • C12N2320/30—Special therapeutic applications
    • C12N2320/32—Special delivery means, e.g. tissue-specific

Definitions

  • Inhibitory nucleic acids downregulate gene expression through a variety of mechanisms.
  • Antisense oligonucleotides are typically single strands of DNA or RNA that are at least partially complementary to a chosen target sequence and function by preventing protein translation of specific messenger RNA strands.
  • Double- stranded RNA (dsRNA) is another type of inhibitory nucleic acid that can induce sequence-specific posttranscriptional gene silencing in many organisms by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi).
  • RNAi RNA interference
  • These functional RNAs include at least two types of small RNA molecules (1) siRNA molecules that induce mRNA degradation, and (2) miRNAs (microRNAs) that induce translational inhibition. Other small RNAs work at the transcriptional level by affecting DNA and histone methylation.
  • the invention is a spherical nucleic acid (SNA) having a dense configuration of oligonucleotides radially positioned around a lipidated structure, wherein the oligonucleotides have a length of 8-200 nucleotides and include at least one GGG.
  • SNA spherical nucleic acid
  • the oligonucleotides have the following structure: 5' X 1 GGGX 2 3' wherein X 1 and X 2 are independently of one another any nucleotide and optionally wherein X 1 is selected from the group consisting of G and A.
  • 5' X 1 GGGX 2 3' is selected from the group consisting of GGGG, GGGT, AGGG and GGGC.
  • the at least one GGG is positioned at the 5' end of the oligonucleotide within the first 10 nucleotides.
  • At least one GGG is positioned at the 3' end of the oligonucleotide within the 10 nucleotides at the 3' end or the at least one GGG is positioned in the center of the oligonucleotide.
  • the oligonucleotides include 2-5 GGG motifs.
  • the oligonucleotides comprise 2-10,000 oligonucleotides. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides comprise 100-10,000, 500-10,000, 1,000- 10,000, 5,000-10,000, 6,000-10,000, 7,000-10,000, 8,000-10,000, 9,000-10,000 or 9,500-10,000 oligonucleotides.
  • the SNA in some embodiments is not a dendrimer.
  • the oligonucleotides are antisense oligonucleotides. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides are nucleolipids. In yet other embodiments the oligonucleotides are siRNAs.
  • the oligonucleotides are comprised of single- stranded or double-stranded DNA oligonucleotides. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides are comprised of single-stranded or double- stranded RNA oligonucleotides. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides are comprised of chimeric RNA-DNA
  • oligonucleotides are comprised of RNA- DNA or DNA-RNA oligonucleotide heteroduplexes. In another embodiment the oligonucleotides are comprised of combinations of single- stranded or double-stranded DNA, RNA, or chimeric RNA-DNA oligonucleotides. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides are double stranded and do not have an overhang. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides are linear.
  • the oligonucleotides have structurally and nucleotide sequence identical oligonucleotides. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides have at least two structurally and nucleotide sequence different oligonucleotides.
  • the oligonucleotides have 2-10 different nucleotide sequences.
  • oligonucleotide In some embodiments at least 50% of the oligonucleotides are modified oligonucleotides. In yet other embodiments all of the oligonucleotides are modified oligonucleotides. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides have at least one phosphorothioate linkage. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides do not have a phosphorothioate linkage. In another embodiment the nanostructure comprises a liposomal core having a lipid bilayer.
  • At least one oligonucleotide has its 5'- terminus exposed to the outside surface of the nanostructure. In other embodiments all of the oligonucleotides have their 5'- terminus exposed to the outside surface of the nanostructure. In other embodiments at least one oligonucleotide has its 3'- terminus exposed to the outside surface of the nanostructure. All of the oligonucleotides have their 3'- terminus exposed to the outside surface of the nanostructure in other embodiments.
  • the oligonucleotides are directly linked to the core. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides are indirectly linked to the core through a linker. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides are indirectly linked to the core through more than one linker.
  • the oligonucleotides are reversibly or irreversibly coupled to the core.
  • the oligonucleotides are linked to the core through a linker.
  • the linker in some embodiments is a chemical structure containing one or more thiol groups, including various chain length alkane thiols, cyclic dithiol, lipoic acid, PEG- thiol, and other thiol group containing linkers.
  • the oligonucleotides are linked to a liposomal core and the linker is one or more of the following linkers: tocopherols, sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate, methylated sphingosines and sphinganines, ceramides, ceramide phosphates, 1-0 acyl ceramides, dihydroceramides, 2- hydroxy ceramides, sphingomyelin, glycosylated sphingolipids, sulfatides, gangliosides, phosphosphingolipids, and phytosphingosines of various lengths and saturation states and their derivatives, phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines,
  • lysophosphatidylcholines phosphatidic acids, lysophosphatidic acids, cyclic LPA, phosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerols, lysophosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylserines, lysophosphatidylserines,
  • phosphatidylinositols inositol phosphates, LPI, cardiolipins, lysocardiolipins, bis(monoacylglycero) phosphates, (diacylglycero) phosphates, ether lipids, diphytanyl ether lipids, and plasmalogens of various lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives, sterols such as cholesterol, desmosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, lathosterol, diosgenin, sitosterol, zymosterol, zymostenol, 14-demethyl-lanosterol, cholesterol sulfate, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, 14-demethyl-14-dehydrlanosterol, sitostanol, campesterol, ether anionic lipids, ether cationic lipids, lanthanide chelating lipids, A-ring substituted oxysterols, B-
  • the core in some embodiments is a solid or hollow core and may be inert, paramagnetic or supramagnetic.
  • the solid core is comprised of noble metals, including gold and silver, transition metals including iron and cobalt, metal oxides including silica, polymers or combinations thereof.
  • the core is a polymeric core and wherein the polymeric core is comprised of amphiphilic block copolymers, hydrophobic polymers including polystyrene, poly(lactic acid), poly(lactic co-glycolic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(caprolactone) and other biocompatible polymers.
  • the core is a liposomal core and is comprised of one type of lipid or alternatively is comprised of 2-10 different lipids.
  • the liposomal core in some embodiments is comprised of one or more lipids selected from: sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate, methylated sphingosines and sphinganines, ceramides, ceramide phosphates, 1-0 acyl ceramides, dihydroceramides, 2-hydroxy ceramides, sphingomyelin, glycosylated sphingolipids, sulfatides, gangliosides, phosphosphingolipids, and phytosphingosines of various lengths and saturation states and their derivatives, phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines,
  • lysophosphatidylcholines phosphatidic acids, lysophosphatidic acids, cyclic LPA, phosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerols, lysophosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylserines, lysophosphatidylserines,
  • phosphatidylinositols inositol phosphates, LPI, cardiolipins, lysocardiolipins, bis(monoacylglycero) phosphates, (diacylglycero) phosphates, ether lipids, diphytanyl ether lipids, and plasmalogens of various lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives, sterols such as cholesterol, desmosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, lathosterol, diosgenin, sitosterol, zymosterol, zymostenol, 14-demethyl-lanosterol, cholesterol sulfate, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, 14-demethyl-14-dehydrlanosterol, sitostanol, campesterol, ether anionic lipids, ether cationic lipids, lanthanide chelating lipids, A-ring substituted oxysterols, B-
  • polyunsaturated sterols of different lengths, saturation states, and derivatives thereof are polyunsaturated sterols of different lengths, saturation states, and derivatives thereof.
  • the SNA further comprises an active agent.
  • the active agent is mixed together with the SNA.
  • the active agent is linked directly to the oligonucleotide shell.
  • the active agent is linked indirectly to the oligonucleotide shell through a linker.
  • the active agent is linked directly to the core.
  • the active agent is linked indirectly to the core through a linker.
  • an active agent -oligonucleotide conjugate is linked to the core through oligonucleotide hybridization.
  • the active agent is associated with the core by being embedded within the core, optionally the liposomal core.
  • the active agent is encapsulated within the liposomal core in an inner aqueous layer.
  • the SNA is a self-assembling nanostructure.
  • a method for reducing gene expression by contacting a cell with a nanostructure comprising a nucleotide amphiphile having an inhibitory oligonucleotide having at least one GGG motif, wherein gene expression is reduced to a greater extent than when the cell is contacted with free inhibitory oligonucleotide is provided in other aspects of the invention.
  • the nucleotide amphiphile may be a spherical nucleic acid (SNA), as described herein.
  • the inhibitory oligonucleotide has the following structure: 5' X 1 GGGX 2 3' wherein X 1 and X 2 are independently of one another any nucleotide, wherein Xi optionally is selected from the group consisting of G and A.
  • 5' XiGGGX 2 3' is selected from the group consisting of GGGG, GGGT, AGGG and GGGC.
  • the inhibitory oligonucleotide is complementary to a target sequence selected from the group consisting of TNF, Bcl-2, EGFR, mdm2, MyD88, PCSK9, survivin, VEGF, developmental genes (e.g. adhesion molecules, cyclin kinase inhibitors, Wnt family members, Pax family members, Winged helix family members, Hox family members, cytokines/lymphokines and their receptors, growth or differentiation factors and their receptors, neurotransmitters and their receptors), oncogenes (e.g.
  • tumor suppresser genes e.g. APC, BRCA1, BRCA2, MADH4, MCC, NF1, NF2, RB I, TP53 and WT1
  • enzymes e.g. ACP desaturases and hycroxylases, ADP- glucose pyrophorylases, ATPases, alcohol dehycrogenases, amylases,
  • amyloglucosidases catalases, cellulases, cyclooxygenases, decarboxylases, dextrinases, esterases, DNA and RNA polymerases, galactosidases, glucanases, glucose oxidases, GTPases, helicases, hemicellulases, integrases, invertases, isomersases, kinases, lactases, lipases, lipoxygenases, lysozymes, pectinesterases, peroxidases, phosphatases, phospholipases, phosphorylases, polygalacturonases, proteinases and peptideases, pullanases, recombinases, reverse transcriptases, topoisomerases, xylanases), and a TLR (e.g. TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8 and TLR9).
  • the inhibitory oligonucleotide may be a therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of anti- viral agents, anti-tumor agents, and agents for treating inherited disorders.
  • the method in some embodiments, is a method for treating a disorder selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disease, an infectious disease, transplant rejection or graft- versus-host disease, malignancy, a pulmonary disorder, an intestinal disorder, a cardiac disorder, sepsis, a spondyloarthropathy, a metabolic disorder, anemia, pain, a hepatic disorder, a skin disorder, a nail disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriasis in combination with psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, vasculitis, Behcet's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), restenosis, diabetes, anemia, pain, a Crohn's disease-related disorder, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), a hepatitis C virus infection,
  • composition for use in the treatment of disease comprises the SNA and embodiments thereof.
  • oligonucleotides including at least one GGG motif are more effective at reducing gene expression than similar oligonucleotides that lack the GGG motif.
  • inhibitory oligonucleotides or inhibitory nucleic acids of the invention preferably have the following structure:
  • X 1 and X 2 are independently of one another any nucleotide.
  • Xi is G, A or T.
  • 5' XiGGGX 2 3' is selected from the group consisting of GGGG, GGGT, AGGG and GGGC.
  • the oligonucleotides may have a single GGG motif or multiple GGG motifs. In some instances the oligonucleotides include 2-10 GGG motifs and/or GGGG, GGGT, AGGG and GGGC GGGG, GGGT, AGGG or GGGC motifs in any combination.
  • the at least one GGG may be positioned anywhere in the oligonucleotide. For instance it may be positioned at the 5' end of the oligonucleotide within the first 10 nucleotides. Alternatively it may be positioned at the 3' end of the oligonucleotide within the 10 nucleotides at the 3' end. The at least one GGG may also be positioned in the center of the oligonucleotide.
  • oligonucleotide refers to any nucleic acid containing molecule.
  • oligonucleotide and nucleic acid are used interchangeably to mean multiple nucleotides (i.e., molecules comprising a sugar (e.g., ribose or
  • deoxyribose linked to a phosphate group and to an exchangeable organic base, which is either a substituted pyrimidine (e.g., cytosine (C), thymidine (T) or uracil (U)) or a substituted purine (e.g., adenine (A) or guanine (G)).
  • a substituted pyrimidine e.g., cytosine (C), thymidine (T) or uracil (U)
  • a substituted purine e.g., adenine (A) or guanine (G)
  • oligonucleosides i.e., a oligonucleotide minus the phosphate
  • the nucleic acid may be DNA, RNA, PNA, LNA, ENA, nucleolipids or combinations or modifications thereof. It may also be single, double or triple stranded.
  • the oligonucleotide may be a wide variety of molecules including but not limited to: single- stranded deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, and other single- stranded oligonucleotides incorporating one or a multiplicity of modifications known to those skilled in the art, double- stranded deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, and other double-stranded oligonucleotides incorporating one or a multiplicity of modifications known to those skilled in the art.
  • inhibitory oligonucleotides also referred to herein as inhibitory nucleic acids, include but are not limited to antisense nucleic acids (single or double stranded), RNAi oligonucleotides, ribozymes, peptides, DNAzymes, peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), triple helix forming oligonucleotides, and aptamers and modified form(s) thereof directed to target sequences in genes, RNA transcripts, or proteins.
  • antisense nucleic acids single or double stranded
  • RNAi oligonucleotides ribozymes, peptides, DNAzymes, peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), triple helix forming oligonucleotides, and aptamers and modified form(s) thereof directed to target sequences in genes, RNA transcripts, or proteins.
  • PNAs peptide nucleic acids
  • Antisense nucleic acids include modified or unmodified RNA, DNA, or mixed polymer nucleic acids, and primarily function by specifically binding to matching sequences resulting in modulation of peptide synthesis.
  • Antisense nucleic acid binds to target RNA by Watson Crick base-pairing and blocks gene expression by preventing ribosomal translation of the bound sequences either by steric blocking or by activating RNase H enzyme.
  • Antisense molecules may also alter protein synthesis by interfering with RNA processing or transport from the nucleus into the cytoplasm.
  • antisense nucleic acid or "antisense oligonucleotide” describes a nucleic acid that is an oligoribonucleotide, oligodeoxyribonucleotide, modified oligoribonucleotide, or modified oligodeoxyribonucleotide which hybridizes under physiological conditions to DNA comprising a particular gene or to an mRNA transcript of that gene and, thereby, inhibits the transcription of that gene and/or the translation of that mRNA.
  • the antisense molecules are designed so as to interfere with transcription or translation of a target gene upon hybridization with the target gene or transcript. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the exact length of the antisense oligonucleotide and its degree of complementarity with its target will depend upon the specific target selected, including the sequence of the target and the particular bases which comprise that sequence.
  • Inhibitory oligonucleotides also include a broad range of RNAi-based modalities useful for inhibiting expression of a gene in a cell, such as siRNA-based oligonucleotides and/or altered siRNA-based oligonucleotides.
  • Altered siRNA based oligonucleotides are those modified to alter potency, target affinity, safety profile and/or stability, for example, to render them resistant or partially resistant to intracellular degradation.
  • Modifications such as phosphorothioates, for example, can be made to oligonucleotides to increase resistance to nuclease degradation, binding affinity and/or uptake.
  • modification of siRNAs at the 2'-sugar position and phosphodiester linkage confers improved serum stability without loss of efficacy.
  • Ribozymes have also been proposed as a means of both inhibiting gene expression of a mutant gene and of correcting the mutant by targeted trans-splicing. Ribozyme activity may be augmented by the use of, for example, non-specific nucleic acid binding proteins or facilitator oligonucleotides. Multitarget ribozymes (connected or shotgun) have been suggested as a means of improving efficiency of ribozymes for gene suppression. Triple helix approaches have also been investigated for sequence- specific gene suppression. Triple helix forming oligonucleotides have been found in some cases to bind in a sequence-specific manner. Similarly, peptide nucleic acids have been shown to inhibit gene expression (Hanvey et al., Antisense Res. Dev.
  • Minor-groove binding polyamides can bind in a sequence-specific manner to DNA targets and hence may represent useful small molecules for suppression at the DNA level.
  • the diverse array of suppression strategies that can be employed includes the use of DNA and/or RNA aptamers that can be selected to target a protein of interest.
  • the inhibitory oligonucleotide is 100% identical to the nucleic acid target. In other embodiments it is at least 99%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, 70%, or 50% identical to the nucleic acid target.
  • the term "percent identical" refers to sequence identity between two nucleotide sequences. Percent identity can be determined by comparing a position in each sequence which may be aligned for purposes of comparison. Expression as a percentage of identity refers to a function of the number of identical amino acids or nucleic acids at positions shared by the compared sequences.
  • ENTREZ-FASTA and BLAST are available as a part of the GCG sequence analysis package (University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.), and can be used with, e.g., default settings.
  • ENTREZ is available through the National Center for Biotechnology
  • an alignment program that permits gaps in the sequence is utilized to align the sequences.
  • the Smith-Waterman is one type of algorithm that permits gaps in sequence alignments. See Meth. Mol. Biol. 70: 173-187 (1997).
  • the GAP program using the Needleman and Wunsch alignment method can be utilized to align sequences.
  • An alternative search strategy uses MPSRCH software, which runs on a MASPAR computer.
  • MPSRCH uses a Smith- Waterman algorithm to score sequences on a massively parallel computer. This approach improves ability to pick up distantly related matches, and is especially tolerant of small gaps and nucleotide sequence errors.
  • Nucleic acid-encoded amino acid sequences can be used to search both protein and DNA databases.
  • An inhibitory oligonucleotide may be designed to have partial or complete complementarity with one or more target genes. Depending on the particular target gene, the nature of the inhibitory oligonucleotide and the level of expression of inhibitory oligonucleotide (e.g. depending on copy number, promoter strength) the procedure may provide partial or complete loss of function for the target gene. Quantitation of gene expression in a cell may show similar amounts of inhibition at the level of accumulation of target mRNA or translation of target protein.
  • “Inhibition of gene expression” refers to the absence or observable decrease in the level of protein and/or mRNA product from a target gene. “Specificity” refers to the ability to inhibit the target gene without manifest effects on other genes of the cell. The consequences of inhibition can be confirmed by examination of the outward properties of the cell or organism or by biochemical techniques such as RNA solution hybridization, nuclease protection, Northern hybridization, reverse transcription, gene expression monitoring with a microarray, antibody binding, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting, radioimmunoassay (RIA), other immunoassays, and fluorescence activated cell analysis (FACS).
  • quantitation of the amount of gene expression allows one to determine a degree of inhibition which is greater than 10%, 33%, 50%, 90%, 95% or 99% as compared to a cell not treated according to the present invention.
  • the efficiency of inhibition may be determined by assessing the amount of gene product in the cell.
  • the inhibitory oligonucleotide is a peptide nucleic acid (PNA).
  • PNA oligomers have greater binding strength and specificity in the formation of a PNA/DNA duplex or PNA/DNA/PNA triplex as compared to a DNA/DNA duplex.
  • PNAs also have increased stability to nucleases and proteases over a wide pH range, which makes them resistant to enzymatic degradation.
  • the oligonucleotides may be a duplex.
  • duplex includes a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule(s) in which complementary sequences or partially complementary sequences are hydrogen bonded to each other.
  • complementary sequences can include a sense strand and an antisense strand.
  • a double- stranded oligonucleotide can be double-stranded over its entire length, meaning it has no overhanging single- stranded sequences and is thus blunt-ended.
  • the two strands of the double-stranded oligonucleotide can have different lengths producing one or more single-stranded overhangs.
  • a double- stranded oligonucleotide of the invention can contain mismatches and/or loops or bulges. In some embodiments, it is double-stranded over at least about 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of the length of the oligonucleotide. In some embodiments, the double- stranded
  • oligonucleotide of the invention contains at least or up to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 mismatches.
  • Oligonucleotides associated with the invention can be modified such as at the sugar moiety, the phosphodiester linkage, and/or the base.
  • sugar moieties includes natural, unmodified sugars, including pentose, ribose and
  • deoxyribose modified sugars and sugar analogs.
  • Modifications of sugar moieties can include replacement of a hydroxyl group with a halogen, a heteroatom, or an aliphatic group, and can include functionalization of the hydroxyl group as, for example, an ether, amine or thiol.
  • Modification of sugar moieties can include 2'-0-methyl nucleotides, which are referred to as "methylated.”
  • oligonucleotides associated with the invention may only contain modified or unmodified sugar moieties, while in other instances, oligonucleotides contain some sugar moieties that are modified and some that are not.
  • modified nucleomonomers include sugar- or backbone- modified ribonucleotides.
  • Modified ribonucleotides can contain a non-naturally occurring base such as uridines or cytidines modified at the 5 '-position, e.g., 5 '-(2- amino)propyl uridine and 5'-bromo uridine; adenosines and guanosines modified at the 8-position, e.g.
  • sugar-modified ribonucleotides can have the 2' -OH group replaced by an H, alkoxy (or OR), R or alkyl, halogen, SH,
  • modified ribonucleotides can have the phosphodiester group connecting to adjacent ribonucleotides replaced by a modified group, such as a phosphorothioate group.
  • 2'-0-methyl modifications can be beneficial for reducing undesirable cellular stress responses, such as the interferon response to double- stranded nucleic acids.
  • the sugar moiety can also be a hexose.
  • alkyl includes saturated aliphatic groups, including straight-chain alkyl groups ⁇ e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, etc.), branched-chain alkyl groups (isopropyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, etc.), cycloalkyl (alicyclic) groups (cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl), alkyl substituted cycloalkyl groups, and cycloalkyl substituted alkyl groups.
  • straight-chain alkyl groups ⁇ e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decy
  • a straight chain or branched chain alkyl has 6 or fewer carbon atoms in its backbone ⁇ e.g., Ci-C 6 for straight chain, C3-C6 for branched chain), and more preferably 4 or fewer.
  • preferred cycloalkyls have from 3-8 carbon atoms in their ring structure, and more preferably have 5 or 6 carbons in the ring structure.
  • Ci-C 6 includes alkyl groups containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
  • alkyl includes both "unsubstituted alkyls” and “substituted alkyls,” the latter of which refers to alkyl moieties having independently selected substituents replacing a hydrogen on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone.
  • alkenyl includes unsaturated aliphatic groups analogous in length and possible substitution to the alkyls described above, but that contain at least one double bond.
  • alkenyl includes both "unsubstituted alkenyls” and “substituted alkenyls,” the latter of which refers to alkenyl moieties having independently selected substituents replacing a hydrogen on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone.
  • base includes the known purine and pyrimidine heterocyclic bases, deazapurines, and analogs (including heterocyclic substituted analogs, e.g.,
  • aminoethyoxy phenoxazine derivatives ⁇ e.g. , 1-alkyl-, 1-alkenyl-, heteroaromatic- and
  • 1- alkynyl derivatives and tautomers thereof.
  • purines include adenine, guanine, inosine, diaminopurine, and xanthine and analogs ⁇ e.g. , 8-oxo-N 6 - methyladenine or 7-diazaxanthine) and derivatives thereof.
  • Pyrimidines include, for example, thymine, uracil, and cytosine, and their analogs ⁇ e.g. , 5-methylcytosine, 5- methyluracil, 5-(l-propynyl)uracil, 5-(l-propynyl)cytosine and 4,4-ethanocytosine).
  • suitable bases include non-purinyl and non-pyrimidinyl bases such as
  • nucleoside includes bases which are covalently attached to a sugar moiety, preferably ribose or deoxyribose. Examples of preferred nucleosides include ribonucleosides and deoxyribonucleosides. Nucleosides also include bases linked to amino acids or amino acid analogs which may comprise free carboxyl groups, free amino groups, or protecting groups. Suitable protecting groups are well known in the art (see P. G. M. Wuts and T. W. Greene, "Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis", 2 nd Ed., Wiley- Interscience, New York, 1999).
  • linkage used in the context of an internucleotide linkage includes a naturally occurring, unmodified phosphodiester moiety (-0-(PO )-0- ) that covalently couples adjacent nucleomonomers.
  • substitute linkage or “modified linkage” or modified internucleotide linkage” includes any analog or derivative of the native phosphodiester group that covalently couples adjacent nucleomonomers. Substitute linkages include phosphodiester analogs, e.g. ,
  • nonphosphorus containing linkages e.g. , acetals and amides.
  • Such substitute linkages are known in the art (e.g. , Bjergarde et al. 1991. Nucleic Acids Res. 19:5843; Caruthers et al. 1991. Nucleosides Nucleotides. 10:47).
  • non-hydrolizable linkages are preferred, such as phosphorothioate linkages.
  • oligonucleotides of the invention comprise 3 ' and 5' termini
  • oligonucleotide can be substantially protected from nucleases, for example, by modifying the 3 Or 5' linkages (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,902 and WO 98/13526). Oligonucleotides can be made resistant by the inclusion of a "blocking group.”
  • blocking group refers to substituents (e.g., other than OH groups) that can be attached to oligonucleotides or nucleomonomers, either as protecting groups or coupling groups for synthesis (e.g.
  • Locking groups also include “end blocking groups” or “exonuclease blocking groups” which protect the 5' and 3 ' termini of the oligonucleotide, including modified nucleotides and non-nucleotide exonuclease resistant structures.
  • Exemplary end-blocking groups include cap structures (e.g., a 7-methylguanosine cap), inverted nucleomonomers, e.g., with 3 '-3 ' or 5 '-5' end inversions (see, e.g. , Ortiagao et al. 1992. Antisense Res. Dev. 2: 129), methylphosphonate, phosphoramidite, non-nucleotide groups (e.g. , non-nucleotide linkers, amino linkers, conjugates) and the like.
  • the 3 ' terminal nucleomonomer can comprise a modified sugar moiety.
  • the 3 ' terminal nucleomonomer comprises a 3'-0 that can optionally be substituted by a blocking group that prevents 3'-exonuclease degradation of the oligonucleotide.
  • the 3'-hydroxyl can be esterified to a nucleotide through a 3' ⁇ 3'
  • the alkyloxy radical can be methoxy, ethoxy, or isopropoxy, and preferably, ethoxy.
  • the 3 ' ⁇ 3 'linked nucleotide at the 3 ' terminus can be linked by a substitute linkage.
  • the 5' most 3' ⁇ 5' linkage can be a modified linkage, e.g. , a phosphorothioate or a P- alkyloxyphosphotriester linkage.
  • the two 5' most 3 ' ⁇ 5' linkages are modified linkages.
  • the 5' terminal hydroxy moiety can be esterified with a phosphorus containing moiety, e.g. , phosphate, phosphorothioate, or P-ethoxyphosphate.
  • oligonucleotides can be chimeric RNA-DNA oligonucleotides which include both DNA and RNA or DNA-RNA or RNA-DNA duplexes.
  • the oligonucleotides are preferably in the range of 2 to 1000, 2-500, 2-100, 5- 500, 5-100, 10-500, 10-100, 8-100, 8-200, 10-50, 15-500, 15- 100, 15-50, 20-500, 20- 100, 20-50, or 20-40 bases or nucleotides in length.
  • nucleic acids of other sizes are useful.
  • the oligonucleotides have a modified backbone such as a phosphorothioate (PS) backbone. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides have a phosphodiester (PO) backbone. In yet other embodiments oligonucleotides have a mixed or chimeric PO and PS backbone.
  • PS phosphorothioate
  • PO phosphodiester
  • inhibitory nucleic acids of the invention may be formulated as a
  • the nanostructure typically is a spherical nucleic acid (SNA).
  • SNA spherical nucleic acid
  • An SNA refers to a dense configuration of oligonucleotides radially positioned around a lipidated structure.
  • the invention is an SNA which is composed of a dense configuration of oligonucleotides radially positioned around a lipidated structure, wherein the oligonucleotides have a length of 8 -200 nucleotides and include at least one GGG.
  • a lipidated structure is a spherical structure composed at least partially of lipids. In some instances the lipidated structure is composed entirely of lipids.
  • the lipids may be arranged, for instance, in a lipid monolayer or a lipid bilayer.
  • the lipids may be arranged around a hollow center, and thus form a hollow core.
  • the lipids may be arranged around a non-lipid material that forms a core.
  • the core may be hollow or solid (including porous cores).
  • a hollow core may be, for instance, an empty space surrounded by lipids i.e. a liposomal core or a hollow space surrounded by a non-lipid material.
  • a solid core is a spherical shaped material that does not have a hollow center. Solid cores include porous or other materials having one or more breaks therein.
  • spherical refers to a general shape and does not imply or is not limited to a perfect sphere or round shape. It may include imperfections.
  • Solid cores can be constructed from a wide variety of materials known to those skilled in the art including but not limited to: noble metals (gold, silver), transition metals (iron, cobalt) and metal oxides (silica). In addition, these cores may be inert, paramagnetic, or supramagnetic. These solid cores can be constructed from either pure compositions of described materials, or in combinations of mixtures of any number of materials, or in layered compositions of materials.
  • solid cores can be composed of a polymeric core such as amphiphilic block copolymers, hydrophobic polymers such as polystyrene, poly(lactic acid), poly(lactic co-glycolic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(caprolactone) and other biocompatible polymers known to those skilled in the art.
  • a polymeric core such as amphiphilic block copolymers, hydrophobic polymers such as polystyrene, poly(lactic acid), poly(lactic co-glycolic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(caprolactone) and other biocompatible polymers known to those skilled in the art.
  • the core may alternatively be a hollow core, which has at least some space in the center region of a shell material.
  • Hollow cores include liposomal cores.
  • a liposomal core as used herein refers to a centrally located core compartment formed by a component of the lipids or phospholipids that form a lipid bilayer.
  • "Liposomes" are artificial, self closed vesicular structure of various sizes and structures, where one or several membranes encapsulate an aqueous core. Most typically liposome membranes are formed from lipid bilayers membranes, where the hydrophilic head groups are oriented towards the aqueous environment and the lipid chains are embedded in the lipophilic core.
  • Liposomes can be formed as well from other amphiphilic monomeric and polymeric molecules, such as polymers, like block copolymers, or polypeptides or lipid monolayers.
  • Unilamellar vesicles are liposomes defined by a single membrane enclosing an aqueous space.
  • oligo- or multilamellar vesicles are built up of several membranes.
  • the membranes are roughly 4 nm thick and are composed of amphiphilic lipids, such as phospholipids, of natural or synthetic origin.
  • the membrane properties can be modified by the incorporation of other lipids such as sterols or cholic acid derivatives.
  • a lipid bilayer is composed of two layers of lipid molecules and a lipid monolayer is composed of one layer of lipid molecules.
  • Each lipid molecule in a layer is oriented substantially parallel to adjacent lipid bilayers, and two layers that form a bilayer have the polar ends of their molecules exposed to the aqueous phase and the non- polar ends adjacent to each other.
  • the central aqueous region of the liposomal core may be empty or filled fully or partially with water, an aqueous emulsion, oligonucleotides, or other therapeutic or diagnostic agent.
  • Lipid is a generic term encompassing fats, lipids, alcohol-ether-soluble constituents of protoplasm, which are insoluble in water. Lipids usually consist of a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic moiety. In water lipids can self organize to form bilayers membranes, where the hydrophilic moieties (head groups) are oriented towards the aqueous phase, and the lipophilic moieties (acyl chains) are embedded in the bilayers core. Lipids can comprise as well two hydrophilic moieties (bola amphiphiles). In that case, membranes may be formed from a single lipid layer, and not a bilayer.
  • lipids in the current context are fats, fatty oils, essential oils, waxes, steroid, sterols, phospholipids, glycolipids, sulpholipids, aminolipids, chromolipids, and fatty acids.
  • the term encompasses both naturally occurring and synthetic lipids.
  • Preferred lipids in connection with the present invention are: steroids and sterol, particularly cholesterol, phospholipids, including phosphatidyl, phosphatidylcholines and
  • phosphatidylethanolamines and sphingomyelins where there are fatty acids, they could be about 12-24 carbon chains in length, containing up to 6 double bonds.
  • the fatty acids are linked to the backbone, which may be derived from glycerol.
  • the fatty acids within one lipid can be different (asymmetric), or there may be only 1 fatty acid chain present, e.g. lysolecithins.
  • Mixed formulations are also possible, particularly when the non- cationic lipids are derived from natural sources, such as lecithins (phosphatidylcholines) purified from egg yolk, bovine heart, brain, liver or soybean.
  • the liposomal core can be constructed from one or more lipids known to those in the art including but not limited to: sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate, methylated sphingosines and sphinganines, ceramides, ceramide phosphates, 1-0 acyl ceramides, dihydroceramides, 2-hydroxy ceramides, sphingomyelin, glycosylated sphingolipids, sulfatides, gangliosides, phosphosphingolipids, and phytosphingosines of various lengths and saturation states and their derivatives, phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidic acids, lysophosphatidic acids, cyclic LPA, phosphatidylethanolamines,
  • sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate, methyl
  • lysophosphatidylethanolamines phosphatidylglycerols, lysophosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylserines, lysophosphatidylserines, phosphatidylinositols, inositol phosphates, LPI, cardiolipins, lysocardiolipins, bis(monoacylglycero) phosphates, (diacylglycero) phosphates, ether lipids, diphytanyl ether lipids, and plasmalogens of various lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives, sterols such as cholesterol, desmosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, lathosterol, diosgenin, sitosterol, zymosterol, zymostenol, 14- demethyl-lanosterol, cholesterol sulfate, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, 14-
  • the oligonucleotides are positioned on or coupled to the exterior of the lipidated structure. Coupled may be direct or indirect or reversible or irreversible. Reversibly coupled compounds are associated with one another using a susceptible linkage.
  • a susceptible linkage is one which is susceptible to separation under physiological conditions. For instance Watson crick base pairing is a susceptible linkage. Cleavable linkers are also susceptible linkages.
  • a dense configuration of oligonucleotides is a collection of oligonucleotides situated in close proximity to one another. At least two oligonucleotides are positioned on the exterior of the lipidated structure. In some embodiments at least 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000, 7,000, 8,000, 9,000 or 10,000 oligonucleotides or any range combination thereof are on the exterior of the lipidated structure.
  • oligonucleotides are present on the surface.
  • inhibitory oligonucleotides form an oligonucleotide shell.
  • An oligonucleotide shell is formed when at least 50% of the available surface area of the exterior surface of the lipidated structure includes an oligonucleotide. In some embodiments at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97% 98% or 99% of the available surface area of the exterior surface of the lipidated structure includes an oligonucleotide.
  • the oligonucleotides of the oligonucleotide shell may be oriented in a variety of directions. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides are oriented radially outwards. The orientation of these oligonucleotides can be either 5' distal/3' terminal in relation to the core, or 3' distal/5 'terminal in relation to the core. In one embodiment one or a multiplicity of different oligonucleotides are present on the same surface of a single SNA. In all cases, at least 1 oligonucleotide is present on the surface but up to 10,000 can be present.
  • the oligonucleotides may be linked to the core or to one another and/or to other molecules such an active agents either directly or indirectly through a linker.
  • the oligonucleotides may be conjugated to a linker via the 5' end or the 3' end, e.g.
  • oligonucleotides of the nanostructure may be linked to one another either directly or indirectly through a covalent or non-covalent linkage.
  • oligonucleotide to another oligonucleotide may be in addition to or alternatively to the linkage of that oligonucleotide to liposomal core.
  • One or more of the oligonucleotides may also be linked to other molecules such as an alternative therapeutic agent.
  • the oligonucleotides may be linked to the therapeutic either directly or indirectly through a covalent or non-covalent linkage.
  • the oligonucleotide shell formed of at least inhibitory oligonucleotide may be anchored to the surface of the lipidated structure or core through one or multiple of linker molecules, including but not limited to: any chemical structure containing one or multiple thiols, such as the various chain length alkane thiols, cyclic dithiol, lipoic acid, or other thiol linkers known to those skilled in the art.
  • the oligonucleotide shell may be anchored to the surface of the liposomal core through conjugation to one or a multiplicity of linker molecules including but not limited to: tocopherols, sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate, methylated sphingosines and sphinganines, ceramides, ceramide phosphates, 1-0 acyl ceramides, dihydroceramides, 2-hydroxy ceramides, sphingomyelin, glycosylated sphingolipids, sulfatides, gangliosides, phosphosphingolipids, and phytosphingosines of various lengths and saturation states and their derivatives, phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines,
  • lysophosphatidylcholines phosphatidic acids, lysophosphatidic acids, cyclic LPA, phosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerols, lysophosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylserines, lysophosphatidylserines,
  • phosphatidylinositols inositol phosphates, LPI, cardiolipins, lysocardiolipins, bis(monoacylglycero) phosphates, (diacylglycero) phosphates, ether lipids, diphytanyl ether lipids, and plasmalogens of various lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives, sterols such as cholesterol, desmosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, lathosterol, diosgenin, sitosterol, zymosterol, zymostenol, 14-demethyl-lanosterol, cholesterol sulfate, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, 14-demethyl-14-dehydrlanosterol, sitostanol, campesterol, ether anionic lipids, ether cationic lipids, lanthanide chelating lipids, A-ring substituted oxysterols, B-
  • PEG of different sizes is incorporated into the structure to alter the in vivo properties including but not limited to sizes from 1,000 Da to 40,000 Da.
  • the nanostructure may also include an active agent.
  • An active agent as used herein is a molecule capable of providing some therapeutic or diagnostic advantage to a cell or subject. Active agents can be attached to the structures by the externally-facing oligonucleotides through covalent or non-covalent, e.g. Watson/Crick hybridization. Alternatively or additionally the active agents may be incorporated into a liposomal bilayer via conjugation to a hydrophobic moiety. In yet another embodiment, active agent may be incorporated inside the inner aqueous layer of the liposome.
  • active agent is conjugated to the liposomal nanostructure via interactions with the oligonucleotide shell.
  • the active agent - oligonucleotide conjugate is linked to the core through oligonucleotide hybridization.
  • the oligonucleotide is hybridized to a complementary or partially complementary oligonucleotide to form a duplex or partial duplex.
  • One or both of the oligonucleotides of the duplex is linked directly to the core and the active agent which is external facing (on the outside of the lipid bilayer) or which is internal (in the inner aqueous layer) and not directly linked to the core is linked to one or both of the oligonucleotides in the duplex.
  • active agent is conjugated to the liposomal nanostructure via direct interactions with the core.
  • the active agent can be anchored to the surface of the liposomal core through conjugation to one or a multiplicity of linker molecules including but not limited to: tocopherols, sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate, methylated sphingosines and sphinganines, ceramides, ceramide phosphates, 1-0 acyl ceramides, dihydroceramides, 2-hydroxy ceramides, sphingomyelin, glycosylated sphingolipids, sulfatides, gangliosides, phosphosphingolipids, and phytosphingosines of various lengths and saturation states and their derivatives, phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines,
  • lysophosphatidylcholines phosphatidic acids, lysophosphatidic acids, cyclic LPA, phosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerols, lysophosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylserines, lysophosphatidylserines,
  • phosphatidylinositols inositol phosphates, LPI, cardiolipins, lysocardiolipins, bis(monoacylglycero) phosphates, (diacylglycero) phosphates, ether lipids, diphytanyl ether lipids, and plasmalogens of various lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives, sterols such as cholesterol, desmosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, lathosterol, diosgenin, sitosterol, zymosterol, zymostenol, 14-demethyl-lanosterol, cholesterol sulfate, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, 14-demethyl-14-dehydrlanosterol, sitostanol, campesterol, ether anionic lipids, ether cationic lipids, lanthanide chelating lipids, A-ring substituted oxysterols, B-
  • the invention also encompasses the use of the inhibitory oligonucleotides for reducing gene expression in a cell.
  • the method is achieved by contacting the cell with any of the inhibitory oligonucleotides or nanostructures described herein in order to reduce gene expression.
  • a nanostructure comprising a nucleotide
  • amphiphile having an inhibitory oligonucleotide having at least one GGG motif may be delivered to a cell to reduce gene expression
  • a nucleotide amphiphile is a supramolecular structure comprised minimally of inhibitory oligonucleotides and lipids associated with one another through interactions including weak noncovalent chemical bonds.
  • the lipids may be assembled into a liposomal structure which captures an end of the oligonucleotide.
  • the nucleotide amphiphile is a spherical nucleic acid (SNA) as described herein.
  • the nucleotide amphiphile may be composed, in whole or in part, of nucleolipids.
  • Nucleolipids possessing both nucleic acid components and lipophilic chains components are useful as building blocks for constructing these supramolecular structures because they include a diversity of functional groups capable of cooperative non-covalent interactions combined with specific base-base recognition.
  • Nucleolipids may possess a polar head derived from either a purine base (adenine or guanine) or a pyrimidine base (cytosine, thymine or uracil). These bases can interact through ⁇ -stacking and hydrogen bonding, each base-base motif displaying different binding characteristics.
  • the base pairs present in nucleic acids are adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine in DNA double strands or adenine-uracil and guanine-cytosine in RNA double strands. Each strand of DNA (or RNA) is coupled through H-bonding to the other strand formed by the complementary bases sequence.
  • Gene expression may be reduced to a greater extent by when the cell is contacted with an inhibitory oligonucleotide in the form of a nanostructure than when the cell is contacted with free inhibitory oligonucleotide.
  • the relative level of gene expression may be assessed using any methods known in the art. For instance, several methods are described herein. The skilled artisan is aware of other methods.
  • the inhibitory oligonucleotide is complementary to a target sequence. Numerous targets are available and known. In some embodiments the target is selected from the group consisting of TNF, Bcl-2, EGFR, mdm2, MyD88, PCSK9, survivin, VEGF, developmental genes (e.g.
  • adhesion molecules cyclin kinase inhibitors, Wnt family members, Pax family members, Winged helix family members, Hox family members, cytokines/lymphokines and their receptors, growth or differentiation factors and their receptors, neurotransmitters and their receptors), oncogenes (e.g.
  • ABLI BLC1, BCL6, CBFA1, CBL, CSFIR, ERBA, ERBB, EBRB2, ETS 1, ETS 1, ETV6, FGR, FOX, FYN, HCR, HRAS, JUN, KRAS, LCK, LYN, MDM2, MLL, MYB, MYC, MYCLl, MYCN, NRAS, PJJVI1, PML, RET, SRC, TALI, TCL3 and YES), tumor suppresser genes (e.g. APC, BRCA1, BRCA2, MADH4, MCC, NF1, NF2, RB I, TP53 and WT1), enzymes (e.g.
  • ACP desaturases and hycroxylases, ADP-glucose pyrophorylases, ATPases, alcohol dehycrogenases, amylases, amyloglucosidases, catalases, cellulases, cyclooxygenases, decarboxylases, dextrinases, esterases, DNA and RNA polymerases, galactosidases, glucanases, glucose oxidases, GTPases, helicases, hemicellulases, integrases, invertases, isomersases, kinases, lactases, lipases, lipoxygenases, lysozymes, pectinesterases, peroxidases, phosphatases, phospholipases, phosphorylases, polygalacturonases, proteinases and peptideases, pullanases, recombinases, reverse transcriptases, topoisome
  • the inhibitory oligonucleotide is a therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of anti-viral agents, anti-tumor agents, and agents for treating inherited disorders.
  • a nanostructure comprised of an inhibitory oligonucleotide may include multiple copies of the same oligonucleotide.
  • the structure may include multiple inhibitory oligonucleotides having different sequences. These different inhibitory oligonucleotides may be directed to the same or different targets, depending on the goal of the study or the therapy.
  • the invention also encompasses methods for the treatment of a subject having a condition or disease.
  • the disorder may be, for instance, an autoimmune disease, an infectious disease, transplant rejection or graft- versus-host disease, malignancy, a pulmonary disorder, an intestinal disorder, a cardiac disorder, sepsis, a
  • spondyloarthropathy a metabolic disorder, anemia, pain, a hepatic disorder, a skin disorder, a nail disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriasis in combination with psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, vasculitis, Behcet's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), restenosis, diabetes, anemia, pain, a Crohn's disease- related disorder, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), a hepatitis C virus infection, psoriatic arthritis, and chronic plaque psoriasis.
  • COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
  • IPF idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
  • JRA juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
  • JRA juvenile rheumatoi
  • the nanostructure can be combined with other unlinked therapeutic agents for treating the disorder.
  • the nanostructure and/or other therapeutic agent may be administered simultaneously or sequentially.
  • the other therapeutic agents When the other therapeutic agents are administered simultaneously they can be administered in the same or separate formulations, but are administered at the same time.
  • the other therapeutic agents are administered sequentially with one another and with the nanostructure, when the administration of the other therapeutic agents and the nanostructure and the therapeutic agent is temporally separated.
  • the separation in time between the administration of these compounds may be a matter of minutes or it may be longer, e.g., days, weeks, months.
  • an effective amount of an inhibitory oligonucleotide or a nanostructure containing the inhibitory oligonucleotide refers to the amount necessary or sufficient to realize a desired biologic effect.
  • an effective amount of an inhibitory oligonucleotide or a nanostructure containing the inhibitory oligonucleotide for treating or preventing disease is that amount necessary to prevent the progression or further worsening of the disease or is that amount necessary to decrease the amount severity or duration of the disease that would otherwise occur in the absence of the inhibitory oligonucleotide or a nanostructure containing the inhibitory oligonucleotide.
  • an effective prophylactic or therapeutic treatment regimen can be planned which does not cause substantial toxicity and yet is entirely effective to treat the particular subject.
  • the effective amount for any particular application can vary depending on such factors as the disease or condition being treated, the particular nanostructure being administered the size of the subject, or the severity of the disease or condition.
  • One of ordinary skill in the art can empirically determine the effective amount of a particular nanostructure without necessitating undue experimentation.
  • Subject doses of the compounds described herein typically range from about 0.1 ⁇ g to 10,000 mg, more typically from about 1 g/day to 8000 mg, and most typically from about 10 ⁇ g to 100 ⁇ g. Stated in terms of subject body weight, typical dosages range from about 0.1 ⁇ g to 20 mg/kg/day, more typically from about 1 to 10 mg/kg/day, and most typically from about 1 to 5 mg/kg/day.
  • the inhibitory oligonucleotides or nanostructures containing the inhibitory oligonucleotides of the invention may be delivered to a subject in vivo or ex vivo for therapeutic and/or diagnostic use or may be used in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo for research purposes.
  • the SNAs may be administered alone or in any appropriate pharmaceutical carrier, such as a liquid, for example saline, or a powder, for administration in vivo. They can also be co-delivered with larger carrier particles or within administration devices.
  • the SNAs may be formulated or unformulated.
  • the formulations of the invention can be administered in pharmaceutically acceptable solutions, which may routinely contain pharmaceutically acceptable concentrations of salt, buffering agents, preservatives, compatible carriers, adjuvants, and optionally other therapeutic ingredients.
  • SNAs are mixed with a substance such as a lotion (for example, aquaphor) and are administered to the skin of a subject, whereby the SNAs are delivered through the skin of the subject.
  • the SNAs may also be sterile.
  • the SNA is administered on a routine schedule.
  • the routine schedule may encompass periods of time which are identical or which differ in length, as long as the schedule is predetermined.
  • the routine schedule may involve administration of the SNA on a daily basis, every two days, every three days, every four days, every five days, every six days, a weekly basis, a monthly basis or any set number of days or weeks there-between, every two months, three months, four months, five months, six months, seven months, eight months, nine months, ten months, eleven months, twelve months, etc.
  • the routine schedule may involve administration of the SNA on a daily basis, every two days, every three days, every four days, every five days, every six days, a weekly basis, a monthly basis or any set number of days or weeks there-between, every two months, three months, four months, five months, six months, seven months, eight months, nine months, ten months, eleven months, twelve months, etc
  • predetermined routine schedule may involve administration of the SNA on a daily basis for the first week, followed by a monthly basis for several months, and then every three months after that. Any particular combination would be covered by the routine schedule as long as it is determined ahead of time that the appropriate schedule involves administration on a certain day.
  • an effective amount of the SNAs can be administered to a subject by any mode that delivers the SNAs to the desired cell.
  • Administering pharmaceutical compositions may be accomplished by any means known to the skilled artisan. Routes of administration include but are not limited to oral, parenteral, intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous, mucosal, intranasal, sublingual, intratracheal, inhalation, ocular, vaginal, dermal, rectal, and by direct injection.
  • a subject shall mean a human or vertebrate animal including but not limited to a dog, cat, horse, cow, pig, sheep, goat, turkey, chicken, primate, e.g., monkey, and fish (aquaculture species), e.g. salmon.
  • the invention can also be used to treat disease in non-human subjects.
  • treat, treated, or treating when used with respect to an disorder refers to a prophylactic treatment which increases the resistance of a subject to development of the disease or, in other words, decreases the likelihood that the subject will develop the disease as well as a treatment after the subject has developed the disease in order to fight the disease or prevent the disease from becoming worse.
  • kits typically defines a package or an assembly including one or more of the compositions of the invention, and/or other compositions associated with the invention, for example, as previously described.
  • kits typically defines a package or an assembly including one or more of the compositions of the invention, and/or other compositions associated with the invention, for example, as previously described.
  • Each of the compositions of the kit if present, may be provided in liquid form (e.g., in solution), or in solid form (e.g., a dried powder).
  • some of the compositions may be constitutable or otherwise processable (e.g., to an active form), for example, by the addition of a suitable solvent or other species, which may or may not be provided with the kit.
  • a kit associated with the invention includes one or more components of the SNA.
  • the kit may include liposomes for forming a liposome core or a metal for forming a solid core, and or inhibitory oligonucleotides for the exterior of the nano structure.
  • a kit can also include one or more other therapeutic agents.
  • a kit of the invention may, in some cases, include instructions in any form that are provided in connection with the compositions of the invention in such a manner that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the instructions are to be associated with the compositions of the invention.
  • the instructions may include instructions for the use, modification, mixing, diluting, preserving, administering, assembly, storage, packaging, and/or preparation of the compositions and/or other compositions associated with the kit.
  • the instructions may also include instructions for the use of the compositions, for example, for a particular use, e.g., to a sample.
  • the instructions may be provided in any form recognizable by one of ordinary skill in the art as a suitable vehicle for containing such instructions, for example, written or published, verbal, audible (e.g., telephonic), digital, optical, visual (e.g., videotape, DVD, etc.) or electronic communications (including Internet or web-based
  • Dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) liposomes approximately 50 nm in diameter, were synthesized via extrusion. Under RNAse-free and sterile conditions, the active and negative control antisense oligonucleotides were added liposomes and allowed to stand overnight. The lipids at the 3' end of the oligonucleotides insert into the DOPC bilayer, resulting in an external nucleic acid functionalization of liposome. These SNAs were functionalized with a final loading of 100 antisense strands per liposome. Liposomal SNAs have been found to incorporate nucleic acids essentially quantitatively. SNAs were stored at 4 °C until the day of transfection when they were warmed to room temperature prior to use.
  • HEFs Primary human fetal keratinocytes
  • HKFs Primary human fetal keratinocytes
  • HGS Human keratinocyte growth supplement
  • HEMn Primary neonatal human epidermal melanocytes
  • HMGS human melanocyte growth supplement
  • HFK cells were treated in quadruplicate with inhibitory SNAs targeting nuclear factor-kappa B l (NF-KB 1), interleukin-22 receptor Al (IL- 22RA1), interleukin-17 receptor Al (IL-17RA1), or receptor for advanced glycation end- products (RAGE) and a non-targeting control SNA.
  • the SNA concentration was 5 nM (the corresponding antisense concentration was 500 nM) in fresh maintenance media.
  • HEMn cells were treated in quadruplicate with inhibitory SNAs targeting tyrosinase (TYR) and a non-targeting control SNA at a final SNA concentration of 5 nM (antisense concentration of 500 nM) in fresh maintenance media. The SNAs were incubated with the cells for 24 hours.
  • RT-PCR was performed using a mixture containing 6 f the synthesized cDNA, 4.66 LightCycler480 probes master mix (Roche), 0.4 of gene specific FAM-labeled probes and primers, and 0.37 human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) specific HEX-labeled probe and primers per reaction well of a 384-well optical reaction plate (Roche).
  • GPDH human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
  • the primer and probe sets for NF- ⁇ 1 , IL22RA, IL17RA, RAGE, TYR and GAPDH were designed using the known human genome sequence (NCBI reference sequences NM_003998.3 , NM_021258.3, NM_014339.6, NM_001136.4, NM_000372.4 and NM_002046.4 , respectively) and were found to be specific by "blastn" analysis (NCBI).
  • NCBI human genome sequence
  • oligonucleotide probes and primers used can be found in the table below.
  • RT-PCR reactions in duplicate, were carried out on the Roche Lightcycler 480 with the following cycle programming: initial denaturation at 95 °C for 10 minutes and then 50 cycles of denaturation at 95 °C for 10 seconds, annealing at 60 °C for 30 seconds and extension at 72 °C for 1 second.
  • Cp values were obtained by analysis with the 2 nd derivative method. Relative gene expression was determined by normalization with the housekeeping gene (GAPDH) and the ⁇ -Cp method. Each active SNA was compared to its control SNA.
  • GPDH housekeeping gene
  • the SNA knockdown data were analyzed as a function of the following antisense strand features: G content, number of G doublets, triplets, and quadruplets, and strand self-dimerization AG (Table 1). In the analysis, the knockdown data against five different genes (Tables 2-6) were merged together.
  • niN 2' O-Methyl RNA
  • iSpl8 hexa(ethylene glycol) phosphodiester
  • the protein encoded by this gene belongs to
  • NM_021258.3 been shown to be a receptor for interleukin 22 A 31335- (IL22). It is implicated in a variety of
  • the advanced glycosylation end product (AGE) receptor encoded by this gene is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface receptors. It is a multiligand
  • the enzyme encoded by this gene catalyzes the first 2 steps, and at least 1 subsequent step, in the conversion of tyrosine to melanin.
  • the enzyme has both tyrosine hydroxylase and
  • nonpathologic polymorphisms result in skin pigmentation variation.
  • the human genome contains a pseudogene similar to the 3' half of this gene.
  • IL17R Trends in Interleukin 17 A is a proinflammatory
  • IL17RA interleukin 17 A receptor
  • Interleukin 17 A and its receptor play a pathogenic role in many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
  • NF-KB nuclear factor kappa- light-chain- enhancer of activated B cells
  • NF-KB is a protein complex that controls transcription of DNA.
  • NF-KB is found in almost all animal cell types and is involved in cellular responses to stimuli such as stress, cytokines, free radicals,
  • K light chains are critical components of immunoglobulins. Incorrect regulation of NF-KB has been linked to cancer, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases, septic shock, viral infection, and improper immune development.

Abstract

Optimized inhibitory nucleic acids are provided. The nucleic acids have sequences which include an optimal inhibitory motif, such as a GGG. Related methods are also described.

Description

NUCLEIC ACID NANOSTRUCTURES WITH CORE MOTIFS
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/103,303, entitled "NUCLEIC ACID NANOSTRUCTURES WITH CORE MOTIFS" filed on January 14, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Inhibitory nucleic acids downregulate gene expression through a variety of mechanisms. Antisense oligonucleotides, for instance, are typically single strands of DNA or RNA that are at least partially complementary to a chosen target sequence and function by preventing protein translation of specific messenger RNA strands. Double- stranded RNA (dsRNA) is another type of inhibitory nucleic acid that can induce sequence-specific posttranscriptional gene silencing in many organisms by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). These functional RNAs include at least two types of small RNA molecules (1) siRNA molecules that induce mRNA degradation, and (2) miRNAs (microRNAs) that induce translational inhibition. Other small RNAs work at the transcriptional level by affecting DNA and histone methylation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In some aspects the invention is a spherical nucleic acid (SNA) having a dense configuration of oligonucleotides radially positioned around a lipidated structure, wherein the oligonucleotides have a length of 8-200 nucleotides and include at least one GGG.
In some embodiments the oligonucleotides have the following structure: 5' X1GGGX2 3' wherein X1 and X2 are independently of one another any nucleotide and optionally wherein X1 is selected from the group consisting of G and A. In other embodiments 5' X1GGGX2 3' is selected from the group consisting of GGGG, GGGT, AGGG and GGGC. In other embodiments the at least one GGG is positioned at the 5' end of the oligonucleotide within the first 10 nucleotides. In yet other embodiments at least one GGG is positioned at the 3' end of the oligonucleotide within the 10 nucleotides at the 3' end or the at least one GGG is positioned in the center of the oligonucleotide. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides include 2-5 GGG motifs.
In another embodiment the oligonucleotides comprise 2-10,000 oligonucleotides. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides comprise 100-10,000, 500-10,000, 1,000- 10,000, 5,000-10,000, 6,000-10,000, 7,000-10,000, 8,000-10,000, 9,000-10,000 or 9,500-10,000 oligonucleotides.
The SNA in some embodiments is not a dendrimer.
In some embodiments the oligonucleotides are antisense oligonucleotides. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides are nucleolipids. In yet other embodiments the oligonucleotides are siRNAs.
In some embodiments the oligonucleotides are comprised of single- stranded or double-stranded DNA oligonucleotides. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides are comprised of single-stranded or double- stranded RNA oligonucleotides. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides are comprised of chimeric RNA-DNA
oligonucleotides. In another embodiment the oligonucleotides are comprised of RNA- DNA or DNA-RNA oligonucleotide heteroduplexes. In another embodiment the oligonucleotides are comprised of combinations of single- stranded or double-stranded DNA, RNA, or chimeric RNA-DNA oligonucleotides. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides are double stranded and do not have an overhang. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides are linear.
In another embodiment the oligonucleotides have structurally and nucleotide sequence identical oligonucleotides. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides have at least two structurally and nucleotide sequence different oligonucleotides.
In other embodiments the oligonucleotides have 2-10 different nucleotide sequences.
In an embodiment at least one of the oligonucleotides is a modified
oligonucleotide. In some embodiments at least 50% of the oligonucleotides are modified oligonucleotides. In yet other embodiments all of the oligonucleotides are modified oligonucleotides. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides have at least one phosphorothioate linkage. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides do not have a phosphorothioate linkage. In another embodiment the nanostructure comprises a liposomal core having a lipid bilayer.
In some embodiments at least one oligonucleotide has its 5'- terminus exposed to the outside surface of the nanostructure. In other embodiments all of the oligonucleotides have their 5'- terminus exposed to the outside surface of the nanostructure. In other embodiments at least one oligonucleotide has its 3'- terminus exposed to the outside surface of the nanostructure. All of the oligonucleotides have their 3'- terminus exposed to the outside surface of the nanostructure in other embodiments.
In another embodiment the oligonucleotides are directly linked to the core. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides are indirectly linked to the core through a linker. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides are indirectly linked to the core through more than one linker.
In other embodiments the oligonucleotides are reversibly or irreversibly coupled to the core.
In some embodiments the oligonucleotides are linked to the core through a linker.
The linker in some embodiments is a chemical structure containing one or more thiol groups, including various chain length alkane thiols, cyclic dithiol, lipoic acid, PEG- thiol, and other thiol group containing linkers. Optionally the oligonucleotides are linked to a liposomal core and the linker is one or more of the following linkers: tocopherols, sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate, methylated sphingosines and sphinganines, ceramides, ceramide phosphates, 1-0 acyl ceramides, dihydroceramides, 2- hydroxy ceramides, sphingomyelin, glycosylated sphingolipids, sulfatides, gangliosides, phosphosphingolipids, and phytosphingosines of various lengths and saturation states and their derivatives, phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines,
lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidic acids, lysophosphatidic acids, cyclic LPA, phosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerols, lysophosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylserines, lysophosphatidylserines,
phosphatidylinositols, inositol phosphates, LPI, cardiolipins, lysocardiolipins, bis(monoacylglycero) phosphates, (diacylglycero) phosphates, ether lipids, diphytanyl ether lipids, and plasmalogens of various lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives, sterols such as cholesterol, desmosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, lathosterol, diosgenin, sitosterol, zymosterol, zymostenol, 14-demethyl-lanosterol, cholesterol sulfate, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, 14-demethyl-14-dehydrlanosterol, sitostanol, campesterol, ether anionic lipids, ether cationic lipids, lanthanide chelating lipids, A-ring substituted oxysterols, B- ring substituted oxysterols, D-ring substituted oxysterols, side-chain substituted oxysterols, double substituted oxysterols, cholestanoic acid derivatives, fluorinated sterols, fluorescent sterols, sulfonated sterols, phosphorylated sterols, and
polyunsaturated sterols of different lengths, saturation states and derivatives thereof.
The core in some embodiments is a solid or hollow core and may be inert, paramagnetic or supramagnetic. In embodiments the solid core is comprised of noble metals, including gold and silver, transition metals including iron and cobalt, metal oxides including silica, polymers or combinations thereof. In other embodiments the core is a polymeric core and wherein the polymeric core is comprised of amphiphilic block copolymers, hydrophobic polymers including polystyrene, poly(lactic acid), poly(lactic co-glycolic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(caprolactone) and other biocompatible polymers.
In another embodiment the core is a liposomal core and is comprised of one type of lipid or alternatively is comprised of 2-10 different lipids. The liposomal core in some embodiments is comprised of one or more lipids selected from: sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate, methylated sphingosines and sphinganines, ceramides, ceramide phosphates, 1-0 acyl ceramides, dihydroceramides, 2-hydroxy ceramides, sphingomyelin, glycosylated sphingolipids, sulfatides, gangliosides, phosphosphingolipids, and phytosphingosines of various lengths and saturation states and their derivatives, phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines,
lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidic acids, lysophosphatidic acids, cyclic LPA, phosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerols, lysophosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylserines, lysophosphatidylserines,
phosphatidylinositols, inositol phosphates, LPI, cardiolipins, lysocardiolipins, bis(monoacylglycero) phosphates, (diacylglycero) phosphates, ether lipids, diphytanyl ether lipids, and plasmalogens of various lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives, sterols such as cholesterol, desmosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, lathosterol, diosgenin, sitosterol, zymosterol, zymostenol, 14-demethyl-lanosterol, cholesterol sulfate, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, 14-demethyl-14-dehydrlanosterol, sitostanol, campesterol, ether anionic lipids, ether cationic lipids, lanthanide chelating lipids, A-ring substituted oxysterols, B- ring substituted oxysterols, D-ring substituted oxysterols, side-chain substituted oxysterols, double substituted oxysterols, cholestanoic acid derivatives, fluorinated sterols, fluorescent sterols, sulfonated sterols, phosphorylated sterols, and
polyunsaturated sterols of different lengths, saturation states, and derivatives thereof.
In another embodiment the SNA further comprises an active agent. In some embodiments the active agent is mixed together with the SNA. In other embodiments the active agent is linked directly to the oligonucleotide shell. In some embodiments the active agent is linked indirectly to the oligonucleotide shell through a linker. In other embodiments the active agent is linked directly to the core. In yet another embodiment the active agent is linked indirectly to the core through a linker. In another embodiment an active agent -oligonucleotide conjugate is linked to the core through oligonucleotide hybridization. In some embodiments the active agent is associated with the core by being embedded within the core, optionally the liposomal core. In some embodiments the active agent is encapsulated within the liposomal core in an inner aqueous layer.
In some embodiments the SNA is a self-assembling nanostructure.
A method for reducing gene expression by contacting a cell with a nanostructure comprising a nucleotide amphiphile having an inhibitory oligonucleotide having at least one GGG motif, wherein gene expression is reduced to a greater extent than when the cell is contacted with free inhibitory oligonucleotide is provided in other aspects of the invention. The nucleotide amphiphile may be a spherical nucleic acid (SNA), as described herein.
In some embodiments the inhibitory oligonucleotide is an antisense
oligonucleotide. In other embodiments the inhibitory oligonucleotide has the following structure: 5' X1GGGX2 3' wherein X1 and X2 are independently of one another any nucleotide, wherein Xi optionally is selected from the group consisting of G and A. In some embodiments 5' XiGGGX2 3' is selected from the group consisting of GGGG, GGGT, AGGG and GGGC.
In some embodiments the inhibitory oligonucleotide is complementary to a target sequence selected from the group consisting of TNF, Bcl-2, EGFR, mdm2, MyD88, PCSK9, survivin, VEGF, developmental genes (e.g. adhesion molecules, cyclin kinase inhibitors, Wnt family members, Pax family members, Winged helix family members, Hox family members, cytokines/lymphokines and their receptors, growth or differentiation factors and their receptors, neurotransmitters and their receptors), oncogenes (e.g. ABLI, BLC1, BCL6, CBFA1, CBL, CSFIR, ERBA, ERBB, EBRB2, ETS 1, ETS 1, ETV6, FGR, FOX, FYN, HCR, HRAS, JUN, KRAS, LCK, LYN, MDM2, MLL, MYB, MYC, MYCL1, MYCN, NRAS, PIM1, PML, RET, SRC, TALI, TCL3 and YES), tumor suppresser genes (e.g. APC, BRCA1, BRCA2, MADH4, MCC, NF1, NF2, RB I, TP53 and WT1), enzymes (e.g. ACP desaturases and hycroxylases, ADP- glucose pyrophorylases, ATPases, alcohol dehycrogenases, amylases,
amyloglucosidases, catalases, cellulases, cyclooxygenases, decarboxylases, dextrinases, esterases, DNA and RNA polymerases, galactosidases, glucanases, glucose oxidases, GTPases, helicases, hemicellulases, integrases, invertases, isomersases, kinases, lactases, lipases, lipoxygenases, lysozymes, pectinesterases, peroxidases, phosphatases, phospholipases, phosphorylases, polygalacturonases, proteinases and peptideases, pullanases, recombinases, reverse transcriptases, topoisomerases, xylanases), and a TLR (e.g. TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8 and TLR9).
The inhibitory oligonucleotide may be a therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of anti- viral agents, anti-tumor agents, and agents for treating inherited disorders.
The method, in some embodiments, is a method for treating a disorder selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disease, an infectious disease, transplant rejection or graft- versus-host disease, malignancy, a pulmonary disorder, an intestinal disorder, a cardiac disorder, sepsis, a spondyloarthropathy, a metabolic disorder, anemia, pain, a hepatic disorder, a skin disorder, a nail disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriasis in combination with psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, vasculitis, Behcet's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), restenosis, diabetes, anemia, pain, a Crohn's disease-related disorder, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), a hepatitis C virus infection, psoriatic arthritis, and chronic plaque psoriasis.
In another aspect a composition for use in the treatment of disease comprises the SNA and embodiments thereof.
Each of the limitations of the invention can encompass various embodiments of the invention. It is, therefore, anticipated that each of the limitations of the invention involving any one element or combinations of elements can be included in each aspect of the invention. This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. The details of one or more
embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying Detailed Description, Examples, Claims, and Figures. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a graph depicting data that shows that the presence of a GGG motif in SNA-formulated oligonucleotides correlates with a greater gene knockdown in human keratinocytes. There are statistically significant differences between zero GGG motifs and both one motif (p = 0.0034) and two motifs (p = 0.0216).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Methods and products for inhibiting gene expression are provided herein.
Optimal sequence motifs for inhibiting gene expression using inhibitory nucleic acids have been discovered herein. In particular it has been discovered that oligonucleotides including at least one GGG motif are more effective at reducing gene expression than similar oligonucleotides that lack the GGG motif.
The inhibitory oligonucleotides or inhibitory nucleic acids of the invention preferably have the following structure:
5' XiGGGX2 3'
wherein X1 and X2 are independently of one another any nucleotide. In some embodiments Xi is G, A or T. In other embodiments 5' XiGGGX2 3' is selected from the group consisting of GGGG, GGGT, AGGG and GGGC. The oligonucleotides may have a single GGG motif or multiple GGG motifs. In some instances the oligonucleotides include 2-10 GGG motifs and/or GGGG, GGGT, AGGG and GGGC GGGG, GGGT, AGGG or GGGC motifs in any combination.
The at least one GGG may be positioned anywhere in the oligonucleotide. For instance it may be positioned at the 5' end of the oligonucleotide within the first 10 nucleotides. Alternatively it may be positioned at the 3' end of the oligonucleotide within the 10 nucleotides at the 3' end. The at least one GGG may also be positioned in the center of the oligonucleotide.
An oligonucleotide, as used herein, refers to any nucleic acid containing molecule. The terms "oligonucleotide" and "nucleic acid" are used interchangeably to mean multiple nucleotides (i.e., molecules comprising a sugar (e.g., ribose or
deoxyribose) linked to a phosphate group and to an exchangeable organic base, which is either a substituted pyrimidine (e.g., cytosine (C), thymidine (T) or uracil (U)) or a substituted purine (e.g., adenine (A) or guanine (G)). The terms shall also include oligonucleosides (i.e., a oligonucleotide minus the phosphate) and any other organic base containing polymer.
The nucleic acid may be DNA, RNA, PNA, LNA, ENA, nucleolipids or combinations or modifications thereof. It may also be single, double or triple stranded. Thus the oligonucleotide may be a wide variety of molecules including but not limited to: single- stranded deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, and other single- stranded oligonucleotides incorporating one or a multiplicity of modifications known to those skilled in the art, double- stranded deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, and other double-stranded oligonucleotides incorporating one or a multiplicity of modifications known to those skilled in the art.
The inhibitory oligonucleotides, also referred to herein as inhibitory nucleic acids, include but are not limited to antisense nucleic acids (single or double stranded), RNAi oligonucleotides, ribozymes, peptides, DNAzymes, peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), triple helix forming oligonucleotides, and aptamers and modified form(s) thereof directed to target sequences in genes, RNA transcripts, or proteins.
Antisense nucleic acids include modified or unmodified RNA, DNA, or mixed polymer nucleic acids, and primarily function by specifically binding to matching sequences resulting in modulation of peptide synthesis. Antisense nucleic acid binds to target RNA by Watson Crick base-pairing and blocks gene expression by preventing ribosomal translation of the bound sequences either by steric blocking or by activating RNase H enzyme. Antisense molecules may also alter protein synthesis by interfering with RNA processing or transport from the nucleus into the cytoplasm.
As used herein, the term "antisense nucleic acid" or "antisense oligonucleotide" describes a nucleic acid that is an oligoribonucleotide, oligodeoxyribonucleotide, modified oligoribonucleotide, or modified oligodeoxyribonucleotide which hybridizes under physiological conditions to DNA comprising a particular gene or to an mRNA transcript of that gene and, thereby, inhibits the transcription of that gene and/or the translation of that mRNA. The antisense molecules are designed so as to interfere with transcription or translation of a target gene upon hybridization with the target gene or transcript. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the exact length of the antisense oligonucleotide and its degree of complementarity with its target will depend upon the specific target selected, including the sequence of the target and the particular bases which comprise that sequence.
Inhibitory oligonucleotides also include a broad range of RNAi-based modalities useful for inhibiting expression of a gene in a cell, such as siRNA-based oligonucleotides and/or altered siRNA-based oligonucleotides. Altered siRNA based oligonucleotides are those modified to alter potency, target affinity, safety profile and/or stability, for example, to render them resistant or partially resistant to intracellular degradation.
Modifications, such as phosphorothioates, for example, can be made to oligonucleotides to increase resistance to nuclease degradation, binding affinity and/or uptake. In addition, modification of siRNAs at the 2'-sugar position and phosphodiester linkage confers improved serum stability without loss of efficacy.
Ribozymes have also been proposed as a means of both inhibiting gene expression of a mutant gene and of correcting the mutant by targeted trans-splicing. Ribozyme activity may be augmented by the use of, for example, non-specific nucleic acid binding proteins or facilitator oligonucleotides. Multitarget ribozymes (connected or shotgun) have been suggested as a means of improving efficiency of ribozymes for gene suppression. Triple helix approaches have also been investigated for sequence- specific gene suppression. Triple helix forming oligonucleotides have been found in some cases to bind in a sequence-specific manner. Similarly, peptide nucleic acids have been shown to inhibit gene expression (Hanvey et al., Antisense Res. Dev. 1(4):307-17, 1991; Knudsen and Nielson Nucleic Acids Res. 24(3):494-500, 1996; Taylor et al., Arch. Surg. 132(11): 1177-83, 1997). Minor-groove binding polyamides can bind in a sequence-specific manner to DNA targets and hence may represent useful small molecules for suppression at the DNA level. The diverse array of suppression strategies that can be employed includes the use of DNA and/or RNA aptamers that can be selected to target a protein of interest.
In some embodiments the inhibitory oligonucleotide is 100% identical to the nucleic acid target. In other embodiments it is at least 99%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, 70%, or 50% identical to the nucleic acid target. The term "percent identical" refers to sequence identity between two nucleotide sequences. Percent identity can be determined by comparing a position in each sequence which may be aligned for purposes of comparison. Expression as a percentage of identity refers to a function of the number of identical amino acids or nucleic acids at positions shared by the compared sequences. Various alignment algorithms and/or programs may be used, including FASTA, BLAST, or ENTREZ-FASTA and BLAST are available as a part of the GCG sequence analysis package (University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.), and can be used with, e.g., default settings. ENTREZ is available through the National Center for Biotechnology
Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.
Other techniques for alignment are described in Methods in Enzymology, vol.
266: Computer Methods for Macromolecular Sequence Analysis (1996), ed. Doolittle, Academic Press, Inc., a division of Harcourt Brace & Co., San Diego, Calif., USA.
Preferably, an alignment program that permits gaps in the sequence is utilized to align the sequences. The Smith-Waterman is one type of algorithm that permits gaps in sequence alignments. See Meth. Mol. Biol. 70: 173-187 (1997). Also, the GAP program using the Needleman and Wunsch alignment method can be utilized to align sequences. An alternative search strategy uses MPSRCH software, which runs on a MASPAR computer. MPSRCH uses a Smith- Waterman algorithm to score sequences on a massively parallel computer. This approach improves ability to pick up distantly related matches, and is especially tolerant of small gaps and nucleotide sequence errors. Nucleic acid-encoded amino acid sequences can be used to search both protein and DNA databases. An inhibitory oligonucleotide may be designed to have partial or complete complementarity with one or more target genes. Depending on the particular target gene, the nature of the inhibitory oligonucleotide and the level of expression of inhibitory oligonucleotide (e.g. depending on copy number, promoter strength) the procedure may provide partial or complete loss of function for the target gene. Quantitation of gene expression in a cell may show similar amounts of inhibition at the level of accumulation of target mRNA or translation of target protein.
"Inhibition of gene expression" refers to the absence or observable decrease in the level of protein and/or mRNA product from a target gene. "Specificity" refers to the ability to inhibit the target gene without manifest effects on other genes of the cell. The consequences of inhibition can be confirmed by examination of the outward properties of the cell or organism or by biochemical techniques such as RNA solution hybridization, nuclease protection, Northern hybridization, reverse transcription, gene expression monitoring with a microarray, antibody binding, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting, radioimmunoassay (RIA), other immunoassays, and fluorescence activated cell analysis (FACS). Depending on the assay, quantitation of the amount of gene expression allows one to determine a degree of inhibition which is greater than 10%, 33%, 50%, 90%, 95% or 99% as compared to a cell not treated according to the present invention. As an example, the efficiency of inhibition may be determined by assessing the amount of gene product in the cell.
In some instances the inhibitory oligonucleotide is a peptide nucleic acid (PNA). PNA oligomers have greater binding strength and specificity in the formation of a PNA/DNA duplex or PNA/DNA/PNA triplex as compared to a DNA/DNA duplex. PNAs also have increased stability to nucleases and proteases over a wide pH range, which makes them resistant to enzymatic degradation.
The oligonucleotides may be a duplex. As used herein, "duplex" includes a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule(s) in which complementary sequences or partially complementary sequences are hydrogen bonded to each other. The
complementary sequences can include a sense strand and an antisense strand. A double- stranded oligonucleotide can be double-stranded over its entire length, meaning it has no overhanging single- stranded sequences and is thus blunt-ended. In other embodiments, the two strands of the double-stranded oligonucleotide can have different lengths producing one or more single-stranded overhangs. A double- stranded oligonucleotide of the invention can contain mismatches and/or loops or bulges. In some embodiments, it is double-stranded over at least about 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of the length of the oligonucleotide. In some embodiments, the double- stranded
oligonucleotide of the invention contains at least or up to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 mismatches.
Oligonucleotides associated with the invention can be modified such as at the sugar moiety, the phosphodiester linkage, and/or the base. As used herein, "sugar moieties" includes natural, unmodified sugars, including pentose, ribose and
deoxyribose, modified sugars and sugar analogs. Modifications of sugar moieties can include replacement of a hydroxyl group with a halogen, a heteroatom, or an aliphatic group, and can include functionalization of the hydroxyl group as, for example, an ether, amine or thiol.
Modification of sugar moieties can include 2'-0-methyl nucleotides, which are referred to as "methylated." In some instances, oligonucleotides associated with the invention may only contain modified or unmodified sugar moieties, while in other instances, oligonucleotides contain some sugar moieties that are modified and some that are not.
In some instances, modified nucleomonomers include sugar- or backbone- modified ribonucleotides. Modified ribonucleotides can contain a non-naturally occurring base such as uridines or cytidines modified at the 5 '-position, e.g., 5 '-(2- amino)propyl uridine and 5'-bromo uridine; adenosines and guanosines modified at the 8-position, e.g. , 8-bromo guanosine; deaza nucleotides, e.g., 7-deaza-adenosine; and N- alkylated nucleotides, e.g., N6-methyl adenosine. Also, sugar-modified ribonucleotides can have the 2' -OH group replaced by an H, alkoxy (or OR), R or alkyl, halogen, SH,
SR, amino (such as NH2, NHR, NR2,), or CN group, wherein R is lower alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl. In some embodiments, modified ribonucleotides can have the phosphodiester group connecting to adjacent ribonucleotides replaced by a modified group, such as a phosphorothioate group.
In some aspects, 2'-0-methyl modifications can be beneficial for reducing undesirable cellular stress responses, such as the interferon response to double- stranded nucleic acids. Modified sugars can include D-ribose, 2'-0-alkyl (including 2'-0-methyl and 2'-0-ethyl), i.e., 2'-alkoxy, 2'-amino, 2'-S-alkyl, 2'-halo (including 2'-fluoro), 2'- methoxyethoxy, 2'-allyloxy (-OCH2CH=CH2), 2'-propargyl, 2'-propyl, ethynyl, ethenyl, propenyl, and cyano and the like. The sugar moiety can also be a hexose.
The term "alkyl" includes saturated aliphatic groups, including straight-chain alkyl groups {e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, etc.), branched-chain alkyl groups (isopropyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, etc.), cycloalkyl (alicyclic) groups (cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl), alkyl substituted cycloalkyl groups, and cycloalkyl substituted alkyl groups. In some embodiments, a straight chain or branched chain alkyl has 6 or fewer carbon atoms in its backbone {e.g., Ci-C6 for straight chain, C3-C6 for branched chain), and more preferably 4 or fewer. Likewise, preferred cycloalkyls have from 3-8 carbon atoms in their ring structure, and more preferably have 5 or 6 carbons in the ring structure. The term Ci-C6 includes alkyl groups containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
Unless otherwise specified, the term alkyl includes both "unsubstituted alkyls" and "substituted alkyls," the latter of which refers to alkyl moieties having independently selected substituents replacing a hydrogen on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone. The term "alkenyl" includes unsaturated aliphatic groups analogous in length and possible substitution to the alkyls described above, but that contain at least one double bond. Unless otherwise specified, the term alkenyl includes both "unsubstituted alkenyls" and "substituted alkenyls," the latter of which refers to alkenyl moieties having independently selected substituents replacing a hydrogen on one or more carbons of the hydrocarbon backbone.
The term "base" includes the known purine and pyrimidine heterocyclic bases, deazapurines, and analogs (including heterocyclic substituted analogs, e.g.,
aminoethyoxy phenoxazine), derivatives {e.g. , 1-alkyl-, 1-alkenyl-, heteroaromatic- and
1- alkynyl derivatives) and tautomers thereof. Examples of purines include adenine, guanine, inosine, diaminopurine, and xanthine and analogs {e.g. , 8-oxo-N6- methyladenine or 7-diazaxanthine) and derivatives thereof. Pyrimidines include, for example, thymine, uracil, and cytosine, and their analogs {e.g. , 5-methylcytosine, 5- methyluracil, 5-(l-propynyl)uracil, 5-(l-propynyl)cytosine and 4,4-ethanocytosine).
Other examples of suitable bases include non-purinyl and non-pyrimidinyl bases such as
2- aminopyridine and triazines. The term "nucleoside" includes bases which are covalently attached to a sugar moiety, preferably ribose or deoxyribose. Examples of preferred nucleosides include ribonucleosides and deoxyribonucleosides. Nucleosides also include bases linked to amino acids or amino acid analogs which may comprise free carboxyl groups, free amino groups, or protecting groups. Suitable protecting groups are well known in the art (see P. G. M. Wuts and T. W. Greene, "Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis", 2nd Ed., Wiley- Interscience, New York, 1999).
As used herein, the term "linkage" used in the context of an internucleotide linkage includes a naturally occurring, unmodified phosphodiester moiety (-0-(PO )-0- ) that covalently couples adjacent nucleomonomers. As used herein, the term "substitute linkage" or "modified linkage" or modified internucleotide linkage" includes any analog or derivative of the native phosphodiester group that covalently couples adjacent nucleomonomers. Substitute linkages include phosphodiester analogs, e.g. ,
phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate, and P-ethyoxyphosphodiester, P- ethoxyphosphodiester, P-alkyloxyphosphotriester, methylphosphonate, and
nonphosphorus containing linkages, e.g. , acetals and amides. Such substitute linkages are known in the art (e.g. , Bjergarde et al. 1991. Nucleic Acids Res. 19:5843; Caruthers et al. 1991. Nucleosides Nucleotides. 10:47). In certain embodiments, non-hydrolizable linkages are preferred, such as phosphorothioate linkages.
In some aspects, oligonucleotides of the invention comprise 3 ' and 5' termini
(except for circular oligonucleotides). The 3' and 5' termini of a oligonucleotide can be substantially protected from nucleases, for example, by modifying the 3 Or 5' linkages (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,902 and WO 98/13526). Oligonucleotides can be made resistant by the inclusion of a "blocking group." The term "blocking group" as used herein refers to substituents (e.g., other than OH groups) that can be attached to oligonucleotides or nucleomonomers, either as protecting groups or coupling groups for synthesis (e.g. , FITC, propyl (CH2-CH2-CH3), glycol (-0-CH2-CH2-0-) phosphate (P03 2~ ), hydrogen phosphonate, or phosphoramidite). "Blocking groups" also include "end blocking groups" or "exonuclease blocking groups" which protect the 5' and 3 ' termini of the oligonucleotide, including modified nucleotides and non-nucleotide exonuclease resistant structures. Exemplary end-blocking groups include cap structures (e.g., a 7-methylguanosine cap), inverted nucleomonomers, e.g., with 3 '-3 ' or 5 '-5' end inversions (see, e.g. , Ortiagao et al. 1992. Antisense Res. Dev. 2: 129), methylphosphonate, phosphoramidite, non-nucleotide groups (e.g. , non-nucleotide linkers, amino linkers, conjugates) and the like. The 3 ' terminal nucleomonomer can comprise a modified sugar moiety. The 3 ' terminal nucleomonomer comprises a 3'-0 that can optionally be substituted by a blocking group that prevents 3'-exonuclease degradation of the oligonucleotide. For example, the 3'-hydroxyl can be esterified to a nucleotide through a 3'→3'
internucleotide linkage. For example, the alkyloxy radical can be methoxy, ethoxy, or isopropoxy, and preferably, ethoxy. Optionally, the 3 '→3 'linked nucleotide at the 3 ' terminus can be linked by a substitute linkage. To reduce nuclease degradation, the 5' most 3'→5' linkage can be a modified linkage, e.g. , a phosphorothioate or a P- alkyloxyphosphotriester linkage. Preferably, the two 5' most 3 '→5' linkages are modified linkages. Optionally, the 5' terminal hydroxy moiety can be esterified with a phosphorus containing moiety, e.g. , phosphate, phosphorothioate, or P-ethoxyphosphate.
In some aspects, oligonucleotides can be chimeric RNA-DNA oligonucleotides which include both DNA and RNA or DNA-RNA or RNA-DNA duplexes.
The oligonucleotides are preferably in the range of 2 to 1000, 2-500, 2-100, 5- 500, 5-100, 10-500, 10-100, 8-100, 8-200, 10-50, 15-500, 15- 100, 15-50, 20-500, 20- 100, 20-50, or 20-40 bases or nucleotides in length. However, nucleic acids of other sizes are useful.
In some embodiments the oligonucleotides have a modified backbone such as a phosphorothioate (PS) backbone. In other embodiments the oligonucleotides have a phosphodiester (PO) backbone. In yet other embodiments oligonucleotides have a mixed or chimeric PO and PS backbone.
The inhibitory nucleic acids of the invention may be formulated as a
nano structure. The nanostructure typically is a spherical nucleic acid (SNA). An SNA, as used herein, refers to a dense configuration of oligonucleotides radially positioned around a lipidated structure. In some aspects, the invention is an SNA which is composed of a dense configuration of oligonucleotides radially positioned around a lipidated structure, wherein the oligonucleotides have a length of 8 -200 nucleotides and include at least one GGG. A lipidated structure is a spherical structure composed at least partially of lipids. In some instances the lipidated structure is composed entirely of lipids. The lipids may be arranged, for instance, in a lipid monolayer or a lipid bilayer. The lipids may be arranged around a hollow center, and thus form a hollow core. Alternatively the lipids may be arranged around a non-lipid material that forms a core. The core may be hollow or solid (including porous cores). A hollow core may be, for instance, an empty space surrounded by lipids i.e. a liposomal core or a hollow space surrounded by a non-lipid material. A solid core is a spherical shaped material that does not have a hollow center. Solid cores include porous or other materials having one or more breaks therein.
The term spherical as used herein refers to a general shape and does not imply or is not limited to a perfect sphere or round shape. It may include imperfections.
Solid cores can be constructed from a wide variety of materials known to those skilled in the art including but not limited to: noble metals (gold, silver), transition metals (iron, cobalt) and metal oxides (silica). In addition, these cores may be inert, paramagnetic, or supramagnetic. These solid cores can be constructed from either pure compositions of described materials, or in combinations of mixtures of any number of materials, or in layered compositions of materials. In addition, solid cores can be composed of a polymeric core such as amphiphilic block copolymers, hydrophobic polymers such as polystyrene, poly(lactic acid), poly(lactic co-glycolic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(caprolactone) and other biocompatible polymers known to those skilled in the art.
The core may alternatively be a hollow core, which has at least some space in the center region of a shell material. Hollow cores include liposomal cores. A liposomal core as used herein refers to a centrally located core compartment formed by a component of the lipids or phospholipids that form a lipid bilayer. "Liposomes" are artificial, self closed vesicular structure of various sizes and structures, where one or several membranes encapsulate an aqueous core. Most typically liposome membranes are formed from lipid bilayers membranes, where the hydrophilic head groups are oriented towards the aqueous environment and the lipid chains are embedded in the lipophilic core. Liposomes can be formed as well from other amphiphilic monomeric and polymeric molecules, such as polymers, like block copolymers, or polypeptides or lipid monolayers. Unilamellar vesicles are liposomes defined by a single membrane enclosing an aqueous space. In contrast, oligo- or multilamellar vesicles are built up of several membranes. Typically, the membranes are roughly 4 nm thick and are composed of amphiphilic lipids, such as phospholipids, of natural or synthetic origin. Optionally, the membrane properties can be modified by the incorporation of other lipids such as sterols or cholic acid derivatives.
A lipid bilayer is composed of two layers of lipid molecules and a lipid monolayer is composed of one layer of lipid molecules. Each lipid molecule in a layer is oriented substantially parallel to adjacent lipid bilayers, and two layers that form a bilayer have the polar ends of their molecules exposed to the aqueous phase and the non- polar ends adjacent to each other. The central aqueous region of the liposomal core may be empty or filled fully or partially with water, an aqueous emulsion, oligonucleotides, or other therapeutic or diagnostic agent.
"Lipid" is a generic term encompassing fats, lipids, alcohol-ether-soluble constituents of protoplasm, which are insoluble in water. Lipids usually consist of a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic moiety. In water lipids can self organize to form bilayers membranes, where the hydrophilic moieties (head groups) are oriented towards the aqueous phase, and the lipophilic moieties (acyl chains) are embedded in the bilayers core. Lipids can comprise as well two hydrophilic moieties (bola amphiphiles). In that case, membranes may be formed from a single lipid layer, and not a bilayer. Typical examples for lipids in the current context are fats, fatty oils, essential oils, waxes, steroid, sterols, phospholipids, glycolipids, sulpholipids, aminolipids, chromolipids, and fatty acids. The term encompasses both naturally occurring and synthetic lipids. Preferred lipids in connection with the present invention are: steroids and sterol, particularly cholesterol, phospholipids, including phosphatidyl, phosphatidylcholines and
phosphatidylethanolamines and sphingomyelins. Where there are fatty acids, they could be about 12-24 carbon chains in length, containing up to 6 double bonds. The fatty acids are linked to the backbone, which may be derived from glycerol. The fatty acids within one lipid can be different (asymmetric), or there may be only 1 fatty acid chain present, e.g. lysolecithins. Mixed formulations are also possible, particularly when the non- cationic lipids are derived from natural sources, such as lecithins (phosphatidylcholines) purified from egg yolk, bovine heart, brain, liver or soybean. The liposomal core can be constructed from one or more lipids known to those in the art including but not limited to: sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate, methylated sphingosines and sphinganines, ceramides, ceramide phosphates, 1-0 acyl ceramides, dihydroceramides, 2-hydroxy ceramides, sphingomyelin, glycosylated sphingolipids, sulfatides, gangliosides, phosphosphingolipids, and phytosphingosines of various lengths and saturation states and their derivatives, phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidic acids, lysophosphatidic acids, cyclic LPA, phosphatidylethanolamines,
lysophosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerols, lysophosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylserines, lysophosphatidylserines, phosphatidylinositols, inositol phosphates, LPI, cardiolipins, lysocardiolipins, bis(monoacylglycero) phosphates, (diacylglycero) phosphates, ether lipids, diphytanyl ether lipids, and plasmalogens of various lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives, sterols such as cholesterol, desmosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, lathosterol, diosgenin, sitosterol, zymosterol, zymostenol, 14- demethyl-lanosterol, cholesterol sulfate, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, 14-demethyl-14- dehydrlanosterol, sitostanol, campesterol, ether anionic lipids, ether cationic lipids, lanthanide chelating lipids, A-ring substituted oxysterols, B-ring substituted oxysterols, D-ring substituted oxysterols, side-chain substituted oxysterols, double substituted oxysterols, cholestanoic acid derivatives, fluorinated sterols, fluorescent sterols, sulfonated sterols, phosphorylated sterols, and polyunsaturated sterols of different lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives.
The oligonucleotides are positioned on or coupled to the exterior of the lipidated structure. Coupled may be direct or indirect or reversible or irreversible. Reversibly coupled compounds are associated with one another using a susceptible linkage. A susceptible linkage is one which is susceptible to separation under physiological conditions. For instance Watson crick base pairing is a susceptible linkage. Cleavable linkers are also susceptible linkages.
A dense configuration of oligonucleotides is a collection of oligonucleotides situated in close proximity to one another. At least two oligonucleotides are positioned on the exterior of the lipidated structure. In some embodiments at least 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000, 7,000, 8,000, 9,000 or 10,000 oligonucleotides or any range combination thereof are on the exterior of the lipidated structure. In some embodiments, 1-1000, 2-10,000, 10-500, 50- 250, 50-300, 1,000-10,000, 2,000-10,000, 3,000-10,000, 4,000-10,000, 5,000-10,000, 6,000-10,000, 7,000-10,000, 8,000-10,000, 9,000-10,000, or 9,500-10,000
oligonucleotides are present on the surface.
In some instances the inhibitory oligonucleotides form an oligonucleotide shell.
An oligonucleotide shell is formed when at least 50% of the available surface area of the exterior surface of the lipidated structure includes an oligonucleotide. In some embodiments at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97% 98% or 99% of the available surface area of the exterior surface of the lipidated structure includes an oligonucleotide.
The oligonucleotides of the oligonucleotide shell may be oriented in a variety of directions. In some embodiments the oligonucleotides are oriented radially outwards. The orientation of these oligonucleotides can be either 5' distal/3' terminal in relation to the core, or 3' distal/5 'terminal in relation to the core. In one embodiment one or a multiplicity of different oligonucleotides are present on the same surface of a single SNA. In all cases, at least 1 oligonucleotide is present on the surface but up to 10,000 can be present.
The oligonucleotides may be linked to the core or to one another and/or to other molecules such an active agents either directly or indirectly through a linker. The oligonucleotides may be conjugated to a linker via the 5' end or the 3' end, e.g.
[Sequence, 5 '-3'] -Linker or Linker- [Sequence, 5' -3']. Some or all of the
oligonucleotides of the nanostructure may be linked to one another either directly or indirectly through a covalent or non-covalent linkage. The linkage of one
oligonucleotide to another oligonucleotide may be in addition to or alternatively to the linkage of that oligonucleotide to liposomal core. One or more of the oligonucleotides may also be linked to other molecules such as an alternative therapeutic agent. The oligonucleotides may be linked to the therapeutic either directly or indirectly through a covalent or non-covalent linkage.
The oligonucleotide shell formed of at least inhibitory oligonucleotide may be anchored to the surface of the lipidated structure or core through one or multiple of linker molecules, including but not limited to: any chemical structure containing one or multiple thiols, such as the various chain length alkane thiols, cyclic dithiol, lipoic acid, or other thiol linkers known to those skilled in the art.
In an embodiment containing a liposomal core, the oligonucleotide shell may be anchored to the surface of the liposomal core through conjugation to one or a multiplicity of linker molecules including but not limited to: tocopherols, sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate, methylated sphingosines and sphinganines, ceramides, ceramide phosphates, 1-0 acyl ceramides, dihydroceramides, 2-hydroxy ceramides, sphingomyelin, glycosylated sphingolipids, sulfatides, gangliosides, phosphosphingolipids, and phytosphingosines of various lengths and saturation states and their derivatives, phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines,
lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidic acids, lysophosphatidic acids, cyclic LPA, phosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerols, lysophosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylserines, lysophosphatidylserines,
phosphatidylinositols, inositol phosphates, LPI, cardiolipins, lysocardiolipins, bis(monoacylglycero) phosphates, (diacylglycero) phosphates, ether lipids, diphytanyl ether lipids, and plasmalogens of various lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives, sterols such as cholesterol, desmosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, lathosterol, diosgenin, sitosterol, zymosterol, zymostenol, 14-demethyl-lanosterol, cholesterol sulfate, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, 14-demethyl-14-dehydrlanosterol, sitostanol, campesterol, ether anionic lipids, ether cationic lipids, lanthanide chelating lipids, A-ring substituted oxysterols, B- ring substituted oxysterols, D-ring substituted oxysterols, side-chain substituted oxysterols, double substituted oxysterols, cholestanoic acid derivatives, fluorinated sterols, fluorescent sterols, sulfonated sterols, phosphorylated sterols, and
polyunsaturated sterols of different lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives.
In some embodiments, PEG of different sizes is incorporated into the structure to alter the in vivo properties including but not limited to sizes from 1,000 Da to 40,000 Da.
The nanostructure may also include an active agent. An active agent as used herein is a molecule capable of providing some therapeutic or diagnostic advantage to a cell or subject. Active agents can be attached to the structures by the externally-facing oligonucleotides through covalent or non-covalent, e.g. Watson/Crick hybridization. Alternatively or additionally the active agents may be incorporated into a liposomal bilayer via conjugation to a hydrophobic moiety. In yet another embodiment, active agent may be incorporated inside the inner aqueous layer of the liposome.
In one embodiment, active agent is conjugated to the liposomal nanostructure via interactions with the oligonucleotide shell. In some instances the active agent - oligonucleotide conjugate is linked to the core through oligonucleotide hybridization. In other words the oligonucleotide is hybridized to a complementary or partially complementary oligonucleotide to form a duplex or partial duplex. One or both of the oligonucleotides of the duplex is linked directly to the core and the active agent which is external facing (on the outside of the lipid bilayer) or which is internal (in the inner aqueous layer) and not directly linked to the core is linked to one or both of the oligonucleotides in the duplex. In another embodiment, active agent is conjugated to the liposomal nanostructure via direct interactions with the core. The active agent can be anchored to the surface of the liposomal core through conjugation to one or a multiplicity of linker molecules including but not limited to: tocopherols, sphingolipids such as sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate, methylated sphingosines and sphinganines, ceramides, ceramide phosphates, 1-0 acyl ceramides, dihydroceramides, 2-hydroxy ceramides, sphingomyelin, glycosylated sphingolipids, sulfatides, gangliosides, phosphosphingolipids, and phytosphingosines of various lengths and saturation states and their derivatives, phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholines,
lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidic acids, lysophosphatidic acids, cyclic LPA, phosphatidylethanolamines, lysophosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylglycerols, lysophosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylserines, lysophosphatidylserines,
phosphatidylinositols, inositol phosphates, LPI, cardiolipins, lysocardiolipins, bis(monoacylglycero) phosphates, (diacylglycero) phosphates, ether lipids, diphytanyl ether lipids, and plasmalogens of various lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives, sterols such as cholesterol, desmosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, lathosterol, diosgenin, sitosterol, zymosterol, zymostenol, 14-demethyl-lanosterol, cholesterol sulfate, DHEA, DHEA sulfate, 14-demethyl-14-dehydrlanosterol, sitostanol, campesterol, ether anionic lipids, ether cationic lipids, lanthanide chelating lipids, A-ring substituted oxysterols, B- ring substituted oxysterols, D-ring substituted oxysterols, side-chain substituted oxysterols, double substituted oxysterols, cholestanoic acid derivatives, fluorinated sterols, fluorescent sterols, sulfonated sterols, phosphorylated sterols, and
polyunsaturated sterols of different lengths, saturation states, and their derivatives.
The invention also encompasses the use of the inhibitory oligonucleotides for reducing gene expression in a cell. The method is achieved by contacting the cell with any of the inhibitory oligonucleotides or nanostructures described herein in order to reduce gene expression. For instance, a nanostructure comprising a nucleotide
amphiphile having an inhibitory oligonucleotide having at least one GGG motif may be delivered to a cell to reduce gene expression
A nucleotide amphiphile, as used herein, is a supramolecular structure comprised minimally of inhibitory oligonucleotides and lipids associated with one another through interactions including weak noncovalent chemical bonds. The lipids may be assembled into a liposomal structure which captures an end of the oligonucleotide. In some embodiments the nucleotide amphiphile is a spherical nucleic acid (SNA) as described herein.
The nucleotide amphiphile may be composed, in whole or in part, of nucleolipids.
Nucleolipids possessing both nucleic acid components and lipophilic chains components are useful as building blocks for constructing these supramolecular structures because they include a diversity of functional groups capable of cooperative non-covalent interactions combined with specific base-base recognition. Nucleolipids may possess a polar head derived from either a purine base (adenine or guanine) or a pyrimidine base (cytosine, thymine or uracil). These bases can interact through π-stacking and hydrogen bonding, each base-base motif displaying different binding characteristics. The base pairs present in nucleic acids are adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine in DNA double strands or adenine-uracil and guanine-cytosine in RNA double strands. Each strand of DNA (or RNA) is coupled through H-bonding to the other strand formed by the complementary bases sequence.
Gene expression may be reduced to a greater extent by when the cell is contacted with an inhibitory oligonucleotide in the form of a nanostructure than when the cell is contacted with free inhibitory oligonucleotide. The relative level of gene expression may be assessed using any methods known in the art. For instance, several methods are described herein. The skilled artisan is aware of other methods. The inhibitory oligonucleotide is complementary to a target sequence. Numerous targets are available and known. In some embodiments the target is selected from the group consisting of TNF, Bcl-2, EGFR, mdm2, MyD88, PCSK9, survivin, VEGF, developmental genes (e.g. adhesion molecules, cyclin kinase inhibitors, Wnt family members, Pax family members, Winged helix family members, Hox family members, cytokines/lymphokines and their receptors, growth or differentiation factors and their receptors, neurotransmitters and their receptors), oncogenes (e.g. ABLI, BLC1, BCL6, CBFA1, CBL, CSFIR, ERBA, ERBB, EBRB2, ETS 1, ETS 1, ETV6, FGR, FOX, FYN, HCR, HRAS, JUN, KRAS, LCK, LYN, MDM2, MLL, MYB, MYC, MYCLl, MYCN, NRAS, PJJVI1, PML, RET, SRC, TALI, TCL3 and YES), tumor suppresser genes (e.g. APC, BRCA1, BRCA2, MADH4, MCC, NF1, NF2, RB I, TP53 and WT1), enzymes (e.g. ACP desaturases and hycroxylases, ADP-glucose pyrophorylases, ATPases, alcohol dehycrogenases, amylases, amyloglucosidases, catalases, cellulases, cyclooxygenases, decarboxylases, dextrinases, esterases, DNA and RNA polymerases, galactosidases, glucanases, glucose oxidases, GTPases, helicases, hemicellulases, integrases, invertases, isomersases, kinases, lactases, lipases, lipoxygenases, lysozymes, pectinesterases, peroxidases, phosphatases, phospholipases, phosphorylases, polygalacturonases, proteinases and peptideases, pullanases, recombinases, reverse transcriptases, topoisomerases, xylanases), and a TLR (e.g. TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8 and TLR9). In some embodiments the inhibitory oligonucleotide is a therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of anti-viral agents, anti-tumor agents, and agents for treating inherited disorders.
A nanostructure comprised of an inhibitory oligonucleotide may include multiple copies of the same oligonucleotide. Alternatively the structure may include multiple inhibitory oligonucleotides having different sequences. These different inhibitory oligonucleotides may be directed to the same or different targets, depending on the goal of the study or the therapy.
The invention also encompasses methods for the treatment of a subject having a condition or disease. The disorder may be, for instance, an autoimmune disease, an infectious disease, transplant rejection or graft- versus-host disease, malignancy, a pulmonary disorder, an intestinal disorder, a cardiac disorder, sepsis, a
spondyloarthropathy, a metabolic disorder, anemia, pain, a hepatic disorder, a skin disorder, a nail disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriasis in combination with psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, vasculitis, Behcet's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), restenosis, diabetes, anemia, pain, a Crohn's disease- related disorder, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), a hepatitis C virus infection, psoriatic arthritis, and chronic plaque psoriasis.
The nanostructure can be combined with other unlinked therapeutic agents for treating the disorder. The nanostructure and/or other therapeutic agent may be administered simultaneously or sequentially. When the other therapeutic agents are administered simultaneously they can be administered in the same or separate formulations, but are administered at the same time. The other therapeutic agents are administered sequentially with one another and with the nanostructure, when the administration of the other therapeutic agents and the nanostructure and the therapeutic agent is temporally separated. The separation in time between the administration of these compounds may be a matter of minutes or it may be longer, e.g., days, weeks, months.
The term "effective amount" of an inhibitory oligonucleotide or a nanostructure containing the inhibitory oligonucleotide refers to the amount necessary or sufficient to realize a desired biologic effect. For example, an effective amount of an inhibitory oligonucleotide or a nanostructure containing the inhibitory oligonucleotide for treating or preventing disease is that amount necessary to prevent the progression or further worsening of the disease or is that amount necessary to decrease the amount severity or duration of the disease that would otherwise occur in the absence of the inhibitory oligonucleotide or a nanostructure containing the inhibitory oligonucleotide. Combined with the teachings provided herein, by choosing among the various active compounds and weighing factors such as potency, relative bioavailability, patient body weight, severity of adverse side-effects and preferred mode of administration, an effective prophylactic or therapeutic treatment regimen can be planned which does not cause substantial toxicity and yet is entirely effective to treat the particular subject. The effective amount for any particular application can vary depending on such factors as the disease or condition being treated, the particular nanostructure being administered the size of the subject, or the severity of the disease or condition. One of ordinary skill in the art can empirically determine the effective amount of a particular nanostructure without necessitating undue experimentation.
Subject doses of the compounds described herein typically range from about 0.1 μg to 10,000 mg, more typically from about 1 g/day to 8000 mg, and most typically from about 10 μg to 100 μg. Stated in terms of subject body weight, typical dosages range from about 0.1 μg to 20 mg/kg/day, more typically from about 1 to 10 mg/kg/day, and most typically from about 1 to 5 mg/kg/day.
The inhibitory oligonucleotides or nanostructures containing the inhibitory oligonucleotides of the invention (referred to collectively as SNA) may be delivered to a subject in vivo or ex vivo for therapeutic and/or diagnostic use or may be used in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo for research purposes. The SNAs may be administered alone or in any appropriate pharmaceutical carrier, such as a liquid, for example saline, or a powder, for administration in vivo. They can also be co-delivered with larger carrier particles or within administration devices. The SNAs may be formulated or unformulated. The formulations of the invention can be administered in pharmaceutically acceptable solutions, which may routinely contain pharmaceutically acceptable concentrations of salt, buffering agents, preservatives, compatible carriers, adjuvants, and optionally other therapeutic ingredients. In some embodiments, SNAs are mixed with a substance such as a lotion (for example, aquaphor) and are administered to the skin of a subject, whereby the SNAs are delivered through the skin of the subject. The SNAs may also be sterile.
In other embodiments of the invention, the SNA is administered on a routine schedule. A "routine schedule" as used herein, refers to a predetermined designated period of time. The routine schedule may encompass periods of time which are identical or which differ in length, as long as the schedule is predetermined. For instance, the routine schedule may involve administration of the SNA on a daily basis, every two days, every three days, every four days, every five days, every six days, a weekly basis, a monthly basis or any set number of days or weeks there-between, every two months, three months, four months, five months, six months, seven months, eight months, nine months, ten months, eleven months, twelve months, etc. Alternatively, the
predetermined routine schedule may involve administration of the SNA on a daily basis for the first week, followed by a monthly basis for several months, and then every three months after that. Any particular combination would be covered by the routine schedule as long as it is determined ahead of time that the appropriate schedule involves administration on a certain day.
For use in therapy, an effective amount of the SNAs can be administered to a subject by any mode that delivers the SNAs to the desired cell. Administering pharmaceutical compositions may be accomplished by any means known to the skilled artisan. Routes of administration include but are not limited to oral, parenteral, intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous, mucosal, intranasal, sublingual, intratracheal, inhalation, ocular, vaginal, dermal, rectal, and by direct injection.
A subject shall mean a human or vertebrate animal including but not limited to a dog, cat, horse, cow, pig, sheep, goat, turkey, chicken, primate, e.g., monkey, and fish (aquaculture species), e.g. salmon. Thus, the invention can also be used to treat disease in non-human subjects.
As used herein, the term treat, treated, or treating when used with respect to an disorder refers to a prophylactic treatment which increases the resistance of a subject to development of the disease or, in other words, decreases the likelihood that the subject will develop the disease as well as a treatment after the subject has developed the disease in order to fight the disease or prevent the disease from becoming worse.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a kit including one or more of the compositions previously discussed. A "kit," as used herein, typically defines a package or an assembly including one or more of the compositions of the invention, and/or other compositions associated with the invention, for example, as previously described. Each of the compositions of the kit, if present, may be provided in liquid form (e.g., in solution), or in solid form (e.g., a dried powder). In certain cases, some of the compositions may be constitutable or otherwise processable (e.g., to an active form), for example, by the addition of a suitable solvent or other species, which may or may not be provided with the kit. Examples of other compositions that may be associated with the invention include, but are not limited to, solvents, surfactants, diluents, salts, buffers, emulsifiers, chelating agents, fillers, antioxidants, binding agents, bulking agents, preservatives, drying agents, antimicrobials, needles, syringes, packaging materials, tubes, bottles, flasks, beakers, dishes, frits, filters, rings, clamps, wraps, patches, containers, tapes, adhesives, and the like, for example, for using, administering, modifying, assembling, storing, packaging, preparing, mixing, diluting, and/or preserving the compositions components for a particular use, for example, to a sample and/or a subject.
In some embodiments, a kit associated with the invention includes one or more components of the SNA. For instance the kit may include liposomes for forming a liposome core or a metal for forming a solid core, and or inhibitory oligonucleotides for the exterior of the nano structure. A kit can also include one or more other therapeutic agents.
A kit of the invention may, in some cases, include instructions in any form that are provided in connection with the compositions of the invention in such a manner that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the instructions are to be associated with the compositions of the invention. For instance, the instructions may include instructions for the use, modification, mixing, diluting, preserving, administering, assembly, storage, packaging, and/or preparation of the compositions and/or other compositions associated with the kit. In some cases, the instructions may also include instructions for the use of the compositions, for example, for a particular use, e.g., to a sample. The instructions may be provided in any form recognizable by one of ordinary skill in the art as a suitable vehicle for containing such instructions, for example, written or published, verbal, audible (e.g., telephonic), digital, optical, visual (e.g., videotape, DVD, etc.) or electronic communications (including Internet or web-based
communications), provided in any manner.
The present invention is further illustrated by the following Examples, which in no way should be construed as further limiting. The entire contents of all of the references (including literature references, issued patents, published patent applications, and co-pending patent applications) cited throughout this application are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
EQUIVALENTS
Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims. All references, including patent documents, disclosed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
In order that the invention described herein may be more fully understood, the following examples are set forth. The examples described in this application are offered to illustrate the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods provided herein and are not to be construed in any way as limiting their scope.
EXAMPLES
Example 1: Correlation of Sequence Features with Antisense SNA Potency Methods
I. Liposomal spherical nucleic acid synthesis
Dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) liposomes, approximately 50 nm in diameter, were synthesized via extrusion. Under RNAse-free and sterile conditions, the active and negative control antisense oligonucleotides were added liposomes and allowed to stand overnight. The lipids at the 3' end of the oligonucleotides insert into the DOPC bilayer, resulting in an external nucleic acid functionalization of liposome. These SNAs were functionalized with a final loading of 100 antisense strands per liposome. Liposomal SNAs have been found to incorporate nucleic acids essentially quantitatively. SNAs were stored at 4 °C until the day of transfection when they were warmed to room temperature prior to use.
II. Cell culture and transfections
Primary human fetal keratinocytes (HKFs) were maintained in Medium 154 (Life Technologies, M-154CF-500) supplemented with 70 μΜ calcium chloride and 1% human keratinocyte growth supplement (HKGS, Life Technologies, S-001-K). Primary neonatal human epidermal melanocytes (HEMn) were maintained in Medium 254 (Life Technologies, M-254-500) supplemented with 1% human melanocyte growth supplement (HMGS, Life Technologies, S-002-5). For HFK experiments, cells were seeded at passage 5 at a density of 15,000 cells per well in 96-well tissue culture treated plates. For HEMn experiments, cells were seeded between passages 7-12 in a similar manner to that of the HFKs. HFK cells were treated in quadruplicate with inhibitory SNAs targeting nuclear factor-kappa B l (NF-KB 1), interleukin-22 receptor Al (IL- 22RA1), interleukin-17 receptor Al (IL-17RA1), or receptor for advanced glycation end- products (RAGE) and a non-targeting control SNA. In all experiments, the SNA concentration was 5 nM (the corresponding antisense concentration was 500 nM) in fresh maintenance media. HEMn cells were treated in quadruplicate with inhibitory SNAs targeting tyrosinase (TYR) and a non-targeting control SNA at a final SNA concentration of 5 nM (antisense concentration of 500 nM) in fresh maintenance media. The SNAs were incubated with the cells for 24 hours.
III. RNA isolation and real-time PCR
Cells were lysed in RLT Buffer (Qiagen) after the 24 hr SNA transfection. RNA was isolated from lysates using the RNEasy 96-well kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer's instructions. cDNA was then synthesized from the RNA isolates using a cDNA high capacity reverse transcription kit (Life Technologies). RNA isolates were treated on a thermocycler at 25 °C for 10 minutes, 37 °C for 90 minutes, 85 °C for 5 minutes with a 4° C hold to generate cDNA. RT-PCR was performed using a mixture containing 6 f the synthesized cDNA, 4.66 LightCycler480 probes master mix (Roche), 0.4
Figure imgf000031_0001
of gene specific FAM-labeled probes and primers, and 0.37 human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) specific HEX-labeled probe and primers per reaction well of a 384-well optical reaction plate (Roche). The primer and probe sets for NF-κΒ 1 , IL22RA, IL17RA, RAGE, TYR and GAPDH were designed using the known human genome sequence (NCBI reference sequences NM_003998.3 , NM_021258.3, NM_014339.6, NM_001136.4, NM_000372.4 and NM_002046.4 , respectively) and were found to be specific by "blastn" analysis (NCBI). The
oligonucleotide probes and primers used can be found in the table below. RT-PCR reactions, in duplicate, were carried out on the Roche Lightcycler 480 with the following cycle programming: initial denaturation at 95 °C for 10 minutes and then 50 cycles of denaturation at 95 °C for 10 seconds, annealing at 60 °C for 30 seconds and extension at 72 °C for 1 second. Cp values were obtained by analysis with the 2nd derivative method. Relative gene expression was determined by normalization with the housekeeping gene (GAPDH) and the ΔΔ-Cp method. Each active SNA was compared to its control SNA.
Figure imgf000032_0001
The SNA knockdown data were analyzed as a function of the following antisense strand features: G content, number of G doublets, triplets, and quadruplets, and strand self-dimerization AG (Table 1). In the analysis, the knockdown data against five different genes (Tables 2-6) were merged together.
Results
The presence of a GGG motif in the sequences of the dataset gives rise to a statistically significant increase in knockdown versus those sequences without the specific motif.
Table 1: Percent mRNA Expression after Treatment with 5nM Hollow SNA
Figure imgf000033_0001
SEQ
Internal mRNA % mRNA
ID Molecule #GGG
Code Target Expression
NO.
5394 *G*C*A*G*G*T*C*mC*mU* e
mA*mU*mU*/isp 18//isp 18//St
earyl/
29 mU*mU*mC*mC*mU*mC*A
Oligo *T*T*A*C*C*mA*mA*mA* Tyrosinas
0 95.0 5395 mU*mA*mG*/isp 18//isp 18//St e
earyl/
30 mG*mU*mG*mC*mU*mG*A
Oligo *C*C*T*C*C*C*A*T*mG*m Tyrosinas
0 80.0 5397 U*mA*mC*mU*mC*/iSp 18//i e
Spl8//Stearyl/
31 mA*mC*mA*mC*mA*mG*G
Oligo *C*T*C*T*A*mG*mG*mG* Tyrosinas
1 84.0 5399 mA*mA*mA*/iSp 18//iSp 18//St e
earyl/
32 mCmAmUmGmGmUT*T*C*
Oligo Tyrosinas
C*A*G*mGmAmUmUmAmC/ 0 77.0 5400 e
ispl8//ispl8//Stearyl/
33 mUmUmGmGmAmAG*A*A*
Oligo Tyrosinas
G*G*C*mUmAmCmAmCmU/ 0 79.0 5401 e
ispl8//ispl8//Stearyl/
34 mCmCmUmCmUG*C*C*T*G
Oligo Tyrosinas
*A*A*A*G*C*mUmGmGmC 0 75.7 5402 e
mC/isp 18//isp 18//Stearyl/
35 mGmGmCmUmGA*G*T*A*A
Oligo Tyrosinas
*G*T*T*A*G*mGmAmUmU 0 70.0 5403 e
mU/isp 18//isp 18//Stearyl/
36 C*A*C*T*A*G*T*T*T*C*C*
Oligo
A*A*G*T*C*A*G*A*T*/iSpl NFKB 0 104.0 5417
8//iSpl8//Stearyl/
37 C*A*C*G*C*T*G*A*G*G*T
Oligo
*C*C*A*T*C*T*C*/iSpl8//iS NFKB 0 115.0 5418
pl8//Stearyl/
38 C*A*A*C*T*G*C*T*G*T*T*
Oligo
C*C*G*G*C*T*G*C*/ispl8//i RAGE 0 85.7 5419
spl8//Stearyl/
39 C*C*A*C*G*C*T*G*A*G*G
Oligo
*T*C*C*A*T*C*T*C*C*/iSp NFKB 0 108.0 5481
18//iSpl8//Stearyl/
40 T*G*C*C*A*G*G*T*G*G*C
Oligo
*G*A*C*C*G*T*G*/iSpl8//iS NFKB 0 76.6 5484
pl8//Stearyl/
41 A*A*C*T*G*C*T*G*T*T*C*
Oligo
C*G*G*C*T*G*C*/ispl8//ispl RAGE 0 78.0 5486
8//Stearyl/
Figure imgf000035_0001
SEQ
Internal mRNA % mRNA
ID Molecule #GGG
Code Target Expression
NO.
54 T*C*C*T*G*C*A*G*A*G*A
Oligo
*A*A*G*G*C*C*A*C*C*/iSp IL22RA 0 86.0 5506
18//iSpl8//Stearyl/
55 C*T *T*C*C*C*T*C*C*A*A*
Oligo
G*G*T*G*C*A*T*/iSpl8//iSp IL22RA 0 111.3 5509
18//Stearyl/
56 A*G*G*C*T*A*T*G*C*C*G
Oligo
*C*T*G*T*G*G*A*/iSpl8//iS IL22RA 0 83.4 5511
pl8//Stearyl/
57 mU*mA*mG*mG*niG*C*G*
Oligo T*G*T*G*T*G*G*G*mU*mC
IL17RA 65.4
5544 *mU*mG*mU*/iSp 18//iSp 18//
Stearyl/
58 mC*mU*mC*mA*mC*T*C*C
Oligo *A*C*T*C*A*C*C*mU*mC*
IL17RA 0 99.5
5551 mC*mC*niA*/iSp 18//iSp 18//St
earyl/
59 mU*mG*mU*mC*mC*T*G*T
Oligo *T*T*G*C*T*C*T*mC*mC*
IL17RA 0 79.8
5552 mU*mG*mU*/iSp 18//iSp 18//St
earyl/
60 mA*mG*mA*mC*mG*A*T*
Oligo A*A*C*C*A*G*A*C*mC*m
IL17RA 0 66.8
5553 G*mC*mU*mG*/iSp 18//iSp 18/
/Stearyl/
61 mU*mA*mA*mC*mU*C*T*G
Oligo *C*A*C*C*C*T*C*mG*mA*
IL17RA 0 81.0
5554 mG*niG*mU*/iSp 18//iSp 18//St
earyl/
62 T*G*T*G*G*T*G*T*T*T*G*
Oligo C*T*C*T*C*C*T*G*T*/ISP L 8 IL17RA 0 95.6 5559
//iSpl8//Stearyl/
63 mU*mU*mG*mU*mC*A*T*C
Oligo ^A^C^T^T^T^T^G^mU^mC*
NFKB 0 71.6
5562 mA*mC*mA*/iSp 18//iSp 18//St
earyl/
64 mC*mC*mA*mC*mG*C*T*G
Oligo *A*G*G*T*C*C*A*mU*mC*
NFKB 0 61.1
5563 mU*mC*mC*/iSp 18//iSp 18//St
earyl/
65 mU*mG*mU*mC*mU*mG*T
Oligo *G*C*A*A*A*mU*mC*mC*
IL22RA 0 102.7
5571 mC*mC*mA*/iSp 18//iSp 18//St
earyl/ SEQ
Internal mRNA % mRNA
ID Molecule #GGG
Code Target Expression
NO.
66 mUmAmGmGmGC*G*T*G*T
Oligo
*G*T*G*G*G*mUmCmUmG IL17RA 2 54.9 5610
mU/iSp 18//iSp 18//Stearyl/
67 mCmCmAmCniAT*A*G*T*A
Oligo
*G*G*T*G*C*mAmCmAmA IL17RA 0 89.7 5614
mU/iSp 18//iSp 18//Stearyl/
68 mCmUmCmAmCT*C*C*A*C
Oligo
*T*C*A*C*C*mUmCmCmCm IL17RA 0 83.0 5618
A/iSpl8//iSpl8//Stearyl/
69 mUmGmUmCmCT*G*T*T*T
Oligo
*G*C*T*C*T*mCmCmUmGm IL17RA 0 84.5 5619
U/iSpl8//iSpl8//Stearyl/
70 mAmGmAmCmGA*T*A*A*C
Oligo
*C*A*G*A*C*mCmGmCmU IL17RA 0 73.9 5621
mG/iSp 18//iSp 18//Stearyl/
71 mUmAniAmCmUC*T*G*C*A
Oligo
*C*C*C*T*C*mGmAmGmG IL17RA 0 62.1 5622
mU/iSp 18//iSp 18//Stearyl/
72 mAmCmUmAniGmUT*T*C*
Oligo
C*A*A*mGmUmCmAmGmA/ NFKB 0 71.4 5623
iSpl8//iSpl8//Stearyl/
73 mCmUmGmCmUmUC*C*T*T
Oligo
*C*C*mAmGmGmGmUmC/is RAGE 1 49.4 5624
pl8//ispl8//Stearyl/
74 mUmCmCmCmAC*T*G*C*A
Oligo
*C*A*G*T*C*mAmGmGmG IL22RA 1 73.3 5630
mC/iSp 18//iSp 18//Stearyl/
75 mCmAmGniGmCA*G*T*T*G
Oligo
*C*C*C*T*G*mGmCmUmG IL22RA 0 75.7 5631
mG/iSp 18//iSp 18//Stearyl/
76 mCmUmCmCmCT*T*G*G*C
Oligo
*C*T*C*T*A*mCmUmCmUm IL22RA 0 96.5 5632
G/iSpl8//iSpl8//Stearyl/
77 mUmGmUmCmUniGT*G*C*
Oligo
A*A*A*mUmCmCmCmCmA/ IL22RA 0 84.0 5636
iSpl8//iSpl8//Stearyl/
78 mAmGmGmCmAmGT*T*G*
Oligo
C*C*C*mUmGmGmCmUmG/ IL22RA 0 95.5 5638
iSpl8//iSpl8//Stearyl/
79 A*G*G*C*A*G*T*T*G*C*C
Oligo
*C*T*G*G*C*T*G*/iSpl8//iS IL22RA 0 87.3 5646
pl8//Stearyl/
80 mUmGmGmUmAA*T*G*G*
Oligo
G*T*A*G*A*T*mUmCmGm IL17RA 1 88.7 5710
UmU/iSp 18//iSp 18//Stearyl/
Figure imgf000038_0001
niN = 2' O-Methyl RNA
* = Phosphorothioate internucleotide linkage
iSpl8 = hexa(ethylene glycol) phosphodiester
Stearyl = Octadecyl phosphodiester (www.glenresearch.com/ProductFiles/10-1979.html) Choi = cholesteryl tetra(ethylene glycol) (CLP-2795 from ChemGenes)
Gene RefSeq Citation Comments
J. Biol.
The protein encoded by this gene belongs to
Chem. 275
the class II cytokine receptor family, and has
IL22R (40),
NM_021258.3 been shown to be a receptor for interleukin 22 A 31335- (IL22). It is implicated in a variety of
31339
inflammatory conditions, induing psoriasis.
(2000)
The advanced glycosylation end product (AGE) receptor encoded by this gene is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface receptors. It is a multiligand
J. Biol.
receptor, and besides AGE, interacts with
Chem. 267
other molecules implicated in homeostasis,
RAGE/ (21),
NM_001136.4 development, and inflammation, and certain AGER 14998- diseases, such as diabetes and Alzheimer's
15004
disease. Many alternatively spliced transcript
(1992)
variants encoding different isoforms, as well as non-protein-coding variants, have been described for this gene. It is related to aging and skin care.
The enzyme encoded by this gene catalyzes the first 2 steps, and at least 1 subsequent step, in the conversion of tyrosine to melanin. The enzyme has both tyrosine hydroxylase and
Science
dopa oxidase catalytic activities, and requires
Tyrosin 217 (4565),
NM_000372.4 copper for function. Mutations in this gene ase 1163-1165
result in oculocutaneous albinism, and
(1982)
nonpathologic polymorphisms result in skin pigmentation variation. The human genome contains a pseudogene similar to the 3' half of this gene.
IL17R Trends in Interleukin 17 A (IL17A)is a proinflammatory
NM_014339.6
A Pharmacol cytokine secreted by activated T-lymphocytes. Gene RefSeq Citation Comments
ogical It is a potent inducer of the maturation of Sciences 30 CD34-positive hematopoietic precursors into (2), 95-103 neutrophils. The protein encoded by this gene (2009) (interleukin 17 A receptor; IL17RA) is a
ubiquitous type I membrane glycoprotein that binds with low affinity to interleukin 17A. Interleukin 17 A and its receptor play a pathogenic role in many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
NF-KB (nuclear factor kappa- light-chain- enhancer of activated B cells) is a protein complex that controls transcription of DNA. NF-KB is found in almost all animal cell types and is involved in cellular responses to stimuli such as stress, cytokines, free radicals,
Annu. Rev. ultraviolet irradiation, oxidized LDL, and
NFkB l NM_003998.3 Immunol. bacterial or viral antigens. NF-KB plays a key
14: 649-83 role in regulating the immune response to infection (K light chains are critical components of immunoglobulins). Incorrect regulation of NF-KB has been linked to cancer, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases, septic shock, viral infection, and improper immune development.
This application refers to various issued patents, published patent applications, journal articles, and other publications, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. If there is a conflict between any of the incorporated references and the instant specification, the specification shall control. In addition, any particular embodiment of the present invention that falls within the prior art may be explicitly excluded from any one or more of the claims. Because such embodiments are deemed to be known to one of ordinary skill in the art, they may be excluded even if the exclusion is not set forth explicitly herein. Any particular embodiment of the invention can be excluded from any claim, for any reason, whether or not related to the existence of prior art.
Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein.
The scope of the present embodiments described herein is not intended to be limited to the above Description, but rather is as set forth in the appended claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications to this description may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, as defined in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:
1. A spherical nucleic acid (SNA) comprising, a dense configuration of oligonucleotides radially positioned around a lipidated structure, wherein the oligonucleotides have a length of 8-200 nucleotides and include at least one GGG.
2. The SNA of claim 1, wherein the oligonucleotides have the following structure:
5' XiGGGX2 3'
wherein Xi and X2 are independently of one another any nucleotide.
3. The SNA of claim 2, wherein Xi is selected from the group consisting of G and A.
4. The SNA of claim 2 or 3, wherein 5' XiGGGX2 3' is selected from the group consisting of GGGG, GGGT, AGGG and GGGC.
5. The SNA of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the oligonucleotides are antisense oligonucleotides.
6. The SNA of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the oligonucleotides include 2-5 GGG motifs.
7. The SNA of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the SNA structure contains 2- 10,000 oligonucleotides.
8. The SNA of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the SNA is not a dendrimer.
9. The SNA of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the oligonucleotides are linked to a core.
10. The SNA of claim 9, wherein the core is the lipidated structure and is a liposomal core.
11. The SNA of claim 10, wherein the liposomal core is comprised of one type of lipid.
12. The SNA of claim 10, wherein the liposomal core is comprised of 2-10 different lipids.
13. The SNA of claim 9, wherein the core is a solid or hollow core.
14. The SNA of claim 9, wherein the core is inert, paramagnetic or
supramagnetic.
15. The SNA of claim 9, wherein the core is a solid core.
16. The SNA of claim 15, wherein the solid core is comprised of noble metals, including gold and silver, transition metals including iron and cobalt, metal oxides including silica, polymers or combinations thereof.
17. The SNA of claim 16, wherein the core is a polymeric core and wherein the polymeric core is comprised of amphiphilic block copolymers, hydrophobic polymers including polystyrene, poly(lactic acid), poly(lactic co-glycolic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(caprolactone) and other biocompatible polymers.
18. The SNA of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the oligonucleotides have 5'- terminus exposed to the outside surface of the SNA.
19. The SNA of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the oligonucleotides have 3'- terminus exposed to the outside surface of the SNA.
20. The SNA of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the oligonucleotides are directly linked to the core.
21. The SNA of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the oligonucleotides are indirectly linked to the core through a linker.
22. The SNA of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the oligonucleotides are nucleolipids.
23. The SNA of any one of claims 1-4 or 6-17, wherein the oligonucleotides are siRNAs.
24. The SNA of any one of claims 1-23, wherein the oligonucleotides are single stranded.
25. The SNA of any one of claims 1-24, wherein the oligonucleotides are linear.
26. The SNA of any one of claims 1-24, wherein the oligonucleotides are double stranded and do not have an overhang.
27. The SNA of any one of claims 1-26, wherein the at least one GGG is positioned at the 5' end of the oligonucleotide within the first 10 nucleotides.
28. The SNA of any one of claims 1-26, wherein the at least one GGG is positioned at the 3' end of the oligonucleotide within the 10 nucleotides at the 3' end.
29. The SNA of any one of claims 1-26, wherein the at least one GGG is positioned in the center of the oligonucleotide.
30. A method for reducing gene expression, comprising contacting a cell with a nanostructure comprising a nucleotide amphiphile having an inhibitory oligonucleotide having at least one GGG motif, wherein gene expression is reduced to a greater extent than when the cell is contacted with free inhibitory oligonucleotide.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the nucleotide amphiphile is a spherical nucleic acid (SNA)
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the SNA is an SNA of any of claims 1-29.
33. The method of claim 30 or 31, wherein the inhibitory oligonucleotide is an antisense oligonucleotide.
34. The method of claim 30 or 31, wherein the inhibitory oligonucleotide has the following structure:
5' XiGGGX2 3'
wherein Xi and X2 are independently of one another any nucleotide.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein Xi is selected from the group consisting of G and A.
36. The method of claim 34 or 35, wherein 5' XiGGGX2 3' is selected from the group consisting of GGGG, GGGT, AGGG and GGGC.
37. The method of any of claims 30-36, wherein the inhibitory oligonucleotide is complementary to a target sequence selected from the group consisting of TNF, Bcl-2, EGFR, mdm2, MyD88, PCSK9, survivin, VEGF, developmental genes (e.g. adhesion molecules, cyclin kinase inhibitors, Wnt family members, Pax family members, Winged helix family members, Hox family members, cytokines/lymphokines and their receptors, growth or differentiation factors and their receptors, neurotransmitters and their receptors), oncogenes (e.g. ABLI, BCL1, BCL6, CBFA1, CBL, CSFIR, ERBA, ERBB, EBRB2, ETS l, ETS l, ETV6, FGR, FOX, FYN, HCR, HRAS, JUN, KRAS, LCK, LYN, MDM2, MLL, MYB, MYC, MYCL1, MYCN, NRAS, PIM1, PML, RET, SRC, TALI, TCL3 and YES), tumor suppresser genes (e.g. APC, BRCA1, BRCA2, MADH4, MCC, NF1, NF2, RB I, TP53 and WT1), enzymes (e.g. ACP desaturases and hycroxylases, ADP-glucose pyrophorylases, ATPases, alcohol dehycrogenases, amylases,
amyloglucosidases, catalases, cellulases, cyclooxygenases, decarboxylases, dextrinases, esterases, DNA and RNA polymerases, galactosidases, glucanases, glucose oxidases, GTPases, helicases, hemicellulases, integrases, invertases, isomersases, kinases, lactases, lipases, lipoxygenases, lysozymes, pectinesterases, peroxidases, phosphatases, phospholipases, phosphorylases, polygalacturonases, proteinases and peptideases, pullanases, recombinases, reverse transcriptases, topoisomerases, xylanases), and a TLR (e.g. TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8 and TLR9).
38. The method of any of claims 30-36, wherein the inhibitory oligonucleotide is a therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of anti-viral agents, anti-tumor agents, and agents for treating inherited disorders.
39. The method of any of claims 30-36, wherein the method is a method for treating a disorder selected from the group consisting of an autoimmune disease, an infectious disease, transplant rejection or graft-versus-host disease, malignancy, a pulmonary disorder, an intestinal disorder, a cardiac disorder, sepsis, a
spondyloarthropathy, a metabolic disorder, anemia, pain, a hepatic disorder, a skin disorder, a nail disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriasis in combination with psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, vasculitis, Behcet's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), restenosis, diabetes, anemia, pain, a Crohn's disease- related disorder, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), a hepatitis C virus infection, psoriatic arthritis, and chronic plaque psoriasis.
40. An inhibitory oligonucleotide comprising a nucleolipid comprising a lipid linked to an oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence that includes at least one
GGG, wherein the oligonucleotide has a length of 8 -200 nucleotides and wherein 30%- 90% of the nucleotides are modified.
41. The inhibitory oligonucleotide of claim40, wherein the oligonucleotide has the following structure:
5' XiGGGX2 3'
wherein Xi and X2 are independently of one another any nucleotide.
42. The inhibitory oligonucleotide of claim41, wherein Xi is selected from the group consisting of G and A.
43. The inhibitory oligonucleotide of claim 41 or claim 42, wherein 5'
XiGGGX2 3' is selected from the group consisting of GGGG, GGGT, AGGG and GGGC.
44. The inhibitory oligonucleotide of any one of claims 40-43, wherein the oligonucleotide is an antisense oligonucleotide.
45. The inhibitory oligonucleotide of any one of claims 40-44, wherein the oligonucleotide includes 2-5 GGG motifs.
46. The inhibitory oligonucleotide of any one of claims 40-45, wherein the lipid is stearyl or cholesterol.
47. The inhibitory oligonucleotide of any one of claims 40-46, wherein the nucleotide modifications are phosphorothioate modifications.
48. The inhibitory oligonucleotide of any one of claims 40-46, wherein the nucleotide modifications are 2Ό Methyl modifications.
49. The inhibitory oligonucleotide of any one of claims 40-46, wherein 40%- 70% of the nucleotides are modified.
50. The inhibitory oligonucleotide of any one of claims 40-49, wherein the oligonucleotide is comprised of at least 40% G.
51. The inhibitory oligonucleotide of any one of claims 40-49, wherein the oligonucleotide is comprised of at least 50% G.
PCT/US2016/013365 2015-01-14 2016-01-14 Nucleic acid nanostructructures with core motifs WO2016115320A1 (en)

Priority Applications (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2016206658A AU2016206658A1 (en) 2015-01-14 2016-01-14 Nucleic acid nanostructures with core motifs
JP2017537260A JP2018503377A (en) 2015-01-14 2016-01-14 Nucleic acid nanostructures with core motifs
CA2973702A CA2973702A1 (en) 2015-01-14 2016-01-14 Nucleic acid nanostructures with core motifs
KR1020177022221A KR20170104550A (en) 2015-01-14 2016-01-14 Nucleic acid nanostructure with core motif
CN201680011892.2A CN108064295A (en) 2015-01-14 2016-01-14 Nucleic acid nano structure with core motif
US15/543,728 US10704043B2 (en) 2015-01-14 2016-01-14 Nucleic acid nanostructures with core motifs
EP16737865.2A EP3247796A4 (en) 2015-01-14 2016-01-14 Nucleic acid nanostructures with core motifs
US16/883,756 US20200339989A1 (en) 2015-01-14 2020-05-26 Nucleic acid nanostructures with core motifs

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201562103303P 2015-01-14 2015-01-14
US62/103,303 2015-01-14

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US15/543,728 A-371-Of-International US10704043B2 (en) 2015-01-14 2016-01-14 Nucleic acid nanostructures with core motifs
US16/883,756 Division US20200339989A1 (en) 2015-01-14 2020-05-26 Nucleic acid nanostructures with core motifs

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2016115320A1 true WO2016115320A1 (en) 2016-07-21
WO2016115320A8 WO2016115320A8 (en) 2016-09-29

Family

ID=56406373

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2016/013365 WO2016115320A1 (en) 2015-01-14 2016-01-14 Nucleic acid nanostructructures with core motifs

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (2) US10704043B2 (en)
EP (1) EP3247796A4 (en)
JP (1) JP2018503377A (en)
KR (1) KR20170104550A (en)
CN (1) CN108064295A (en)
AU (1) AU2016206658A1 (en)
CA (1) CA2973702A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2016115320A1 (en)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017193087A1 (en) * 2016-05-06 2017-11-09 Exicure, Inc. Liposomal spherical nucleic acid (sna) constructs prsenting antisense oligonucleotides(aso) for specific knockdown of interleukin 17 receptor mrna
WO2018201090A1 (en) * 2017-04-28 2018-11-01 Exicure, Inc. Synthesis of spherical nucleic acids using lipophilic moieties
US10208310B2 (en) 2014-10-06 2019-02-19 Exicure, Inc. Anti-TNF compounds
US10434064B2 (en) 2014-06-04 2019-10-08 Exicure, Inc. Multivalent delivery of immune modulators by liposomal spherical nucleic acids for prophylactic or therapeutic applications
US10568898B2 (en) 2013-08-13 2020-02-25 Northwestern University Lipophilic nanoparticles for drug delivery
US10837018B2 (en) 2013-07-25 2020-11-17 Exicure, Inc. Spherical nucleic acid-based constructs as immunostimulatory agents for prophylactic and therapeutic use
US20210002640A1 (en) * 2018-02-28 2021-01-07 Exicure, Inc. Liposomal spherical nucleic acid (sna) constructs for survival of motor neuron (sma) inhibitors
WO2021046254A1 (en) * 2019-09-04 2021-03-11 Exicure, Inc. Liposomal spherical nucleic acid (sna) constructs for splice modulation
EP3728601A4 (en) * 2018-01-17 2021-03-17 Augmanity Nano Ltd A set of anti-pathogenic nucleic acids, compositions and uses thereof
US20210123057A1 (en) * 2019-10-29 2021-04-29 Northwestern University Sequence Multiplicity Within Spherical Nucleic Acids
US11364304B2 (en) 2016-08-25 2022-06-21 Northwestern University Crosslinked micellar spherical nucleic acids
US11433131B2 (en) 2017-05-11 2022-09-06 Northwestern University Adoptive cell therapy using spherical nucleic acids (SNAs)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100233270A1 (en) 2009-01-08 2010-09-16 Northwestern University Delivery of Oligonucleotide-Functionalized Nanoparticles
CN108064295A (en) 2015-01-14 2018-05-22 埃克西奎雷股份有限公司 Nucleic acid nano structure with core motif
CN111467472B (en) * 2020-04-21 2020-12-25 南京中医药大学 Immunoregulation microsphere preparation targeting tumor-associated macrophages and preparation method and application thereof

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009051451A2 (en) * 2007-10-17 2009-04-23 Korea Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology Ldl-like cationic nanoparticles for deliverying nucleic acid gene, method for preparing thereof and method for deliverying nucleic acid gene using the same
US20090322327A1 (en) * 2008-06-18 2009-12-31 University Of Washington Nanoparticle-amphipol complexes for nucleic acid intracellular delivery and imaging
US20130295129A1 (en) * 2012-04-05 2013-11-07 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Immunostimulatory compositions and methods of use thereof
WO2014025795A1 (en) * 2012-08-07 2014-02-13 Northeastern University Compositions for the delivery of rna and drugs into cells
WO2014088830A2 (en) * 2012-12-05 2014-06-12 The Regents Of The University Of California Screening of nucleic acid agents via particle display

Family Cites Families (42)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU3379597A (en) 1996-06-19 1998-01-07 Hybridon, Inc. Modulation of tetraplex formation by chemical modifications of a g4-containing oligonucleotide
US6228642B1 (en) * 1998-10-05 2001-05-08 Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Antisense oligonucleotide modulation of tumor necrosis factor-(α) (TNF-α) expression
US6080580A (en) * 1998-10-05 2000-06-27 Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. Antisense oligonucleotide modulation of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression
US20020156033A1 (en) 2000-03-03 2002-10-24 Bratzler Robert L. Immunostimulatory nucleic acids and cancer medicament combination therapy for the treatment of cancer
CA2453417A1 (en) 2001-07-10 2003-06-26 North Carolina State University Nanoparticle delivery vehicle
EP2455467B1 (en) * 2002-02-01 2016-10-05 Life Technologies Corporation Double-stranded oligonucleotides
EP1550458A1 (en) 2003-12-23 2005-07-06 Vectron Therapeutics AG Synergistic liposomal adjuvants
EP1848743A2 (en) 2005-02-14 2007-10-31 Wyeth Interleukin-17f antibodies and other il-17f signaling antagonists and uses therefor
US8252756B2 (en) 2005-06-14 2012-08-28 Northwestern University Nucleic acid functionalized nanoparticles for therapeutic applications
WO2007067733A2 (en) 2005-12-09 2007-06-14 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Compositions and methods to monitor rna delivery to cells
US20070148251A1 (en) 2005-12-22 2007-06-28 Hossainy Syed F A Nanoparticle releasing medical devices
US7723045B2 (en) 2006-02-10 2010-05-25 The Regents Of The University Of California Assays to predict atherosclerosis and dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein
KR20100050443A (en) 2007-05-31 2010-05-13 안테리오스, 인코퍼레이티드 Nucleic acid nanoparticles and uses therefor
CA2703852A1 (en) 2007-11-09 2009-05-14 Northeastern University Self-assembling micelle-like nanoparticles for systemic gene delivery
EP2105145A1 (en) 2008-03-27 2009-09-30 ETH Zürich Method for muscle-specific delivery lipid-conjugated oligonucleotides
US8574582B2 (en) * 2008-10-31 2013-11-05 Janssen Biotech, Inc. Methods for mediating fibrotic response
WO2010105209A1 (en) 2009-03-12 2010-09-16 Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. LIPID FORMULATED COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR INHIBITING EXPRESSION OF Eg5 AND VEGF GENES
PL2470656T3 (en) 2009-08-27 2015-08-31 Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc Composition for inhibiting gene expression and uses thereof
WO2011113054A2 (en) 2010-03-12 2011-09-15 Aurasense Llc Crosslinked polynucleotide structure
EP3023496B1 (en) 2010-05-13 2020-07-29 Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. Compounds which modulate interleukins 17 and 23 signaling activity
CN104024854A (en) 2011-09-11 2014-09-03 奥拉森斯有限责任公司 Cellular Uptake Control Systems
JP2015509085A (en) * 2012-01-01 2015-03-26 キュービーアイ エンタープライゼズ リミテッドＱｂｉ Ｅｎｔｅｒｐｒｉｓｅｓ Ｌｔｄ． Particles targeting ENDO180 for selective delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents
JP6228191B2 (en) * 2012-05-23 2017-11-08 ジ・オハイオ・ステート・ユニバーシティ Lipid-coated albumin nanoparticle composition, method of making the same, and method of using the same
JP6507102B2 (en) * 2013-02-05 2019-04-24 １グローブ ヘルス インスティテュート エルエルシー Biodegradable and Clinically Compatible Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Carriers
CN105007905A (en) * 2013-03-01 2015-10-28 加州理工学院 Targeted nanoparticles
SG11201508111QA (en) 2013-04-26 2015-10-29 Univ Nanyang Tech Modified g-quadruplex nanoparticles
AU2014292928A1 (en) * 2013-07-25 2016-03-03 Exicure, Inc. Spherical nucleic acid-based constructs as immunoregulatory agents
EP3024936B1 (en) 2013-07-25 2019-09-04 Exicure, Inc. Spherical nucleic acid-based constructs as immunostimulatory agents for prophylactic and therapeutic use
CN105939699B (en) * 2013-12-03 2020-10-02 西北大学 Liposomal particles, method for preparing same and uses thereof
AU2015240567A1 (en) 2014-04-03 2016-10-20 Exicure, Inc. Self assembling nucleic acid nanostructures
CN106535876B (en) 2014-06-04 2020-09-11 埃克西奎雷股份有限公司 Multivalent delivery of immunomodulators through liposomal spherical nucleic acids for prophylactic or therapeutic applications
EA201790802A1 (en) * 2014-10-06 2017-08-31 Экзикьюр, Инк. CONNECTIONS AGAINST TNF
CN108064295A (en) 2015-01-14 2018-05-22 埃克西奎雷股份有限公司 Nucleic acid nano structure with core motif
WO2016134104A1 (en) 2015-02-18 2016-08-25 Exicure, Inc. Immuno-regulatory lipid containing spherical nucleic acids
WO2016149323A1 (en) 2015-03-16 2016-09-22 Exicure, Inc. Immunomodulatory spherical nucleic acids
US20180214376A1 (en) 2015-07-14 2018-08-02 Exicure, Inc. Spherical nucleic acid (sna)-mediated delivery of lipid-complexes to cells
US20170240960A1 (en) 2016-02-24 2017-08-24 Aurasense, Llc Spherical nucleic acids (sna) flare based fluorescence in situ hybridization
US20190142739A1 (en) 2016-04-19 2019-05-16 Exicure, Inc. Topical administration of therapeutic agents and oligonucleotide formulations
KR20190003985A (en) 2016-05-06 2019-01-10 엑시큐어, 인크. Agonistic nucleic acid TLR9 agonist
US20210002640A1 (en) 2018-02-28 2021-01-07 Exicure, Inc. Liposomal spherical nucleic acid (sna) constructs for survival of motor neuron (sma) inhibitors
WO2019168558A1 (en) 2018-02-28 2019-09-06 Exicure, Inc. Liposomal spherical nucleic acid (sna) constructs for survival of motor neuron (sma) inhibitors
WO2019246409A1 (en) 2018-06-20 2019-12-26 Exicure, Inc. Il-1 beta targeting spherical nucleic acids

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009051451A2 (en) * 2007-10-17 2009-04-23 Korea Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology Ldl-like cationic nanoparticles for deliverying nucleic acid gene, method for preparing thereof and method for deliverying nucleic acid gene using the same
US20090322327A1 (en) * 2008-06-18 2009-12-31 University Of Washington Nanoparticle-amphipol complexes for nucleic acid intracellular delivery and imaging
US20130295129A1 (en) * 2012-04-05 2013-11-07 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Immunostimulatory compositions and methods of use thereof
WO2014025795A1 (en) * 2012-08-07 2014-02-13 Northeastern University Compositions for the delivery of rna and drugs into cells
WO2014088830A2 (en) * 2012-12-05 2014-06-12 The Regents Of The University Of California Screening of nucleic acid agents via particle display

Non-Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
BANGA, R.J. ET AL.: "Liposomal spherical nucleic acids", JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, vol. 136, 2014, pages 9866 - 9869, XP055427214 *
CHO, Y.-S. ET AL.: "Targeted delivery of siRNA-generating DNA nanocassettes using multifunctional nanoparticles", SMALL., vol. 9, 2013, pages 1964 - 1973, XP055466269 *
KONG, W.H. ET AL.: "Cationic lipid-coated gold nanoparticles as efficient and non- cytotoxic intracellular siRNA delivery vehicles", PHARMACETICAL RESEARCH., vol. 29, 2012, pages 362 - 374, XP035005695 *
See also references of EP3247796A4 *
WU, Y. ET AL.: "DNA aptamer-micelle as an efficient detection/delivery vehicle toward cancer cells", PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES , USA, vol. 107, 2010, pages 5 - 10, XP055423110 *

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10894963B2 (en) 2013-07-25 2021-01-19 Exicure, Inc. Spherical nucleic acid-based constructs as immunostimulatory agents for prophylactic and therapeutic use
US10837018B2 (en) 2013-07-25 2020-11-17 Exicure, Inc. Spherical nucleic acid-based constructs as immunostimulatory agents for prophylactic and therapeutic use
US10568898B2 (en) 2013-08-13 2020-02-25 Northwestern University Lipophilic nanoparticles for drug delivery
US11123294B2 (en) 2014-06-04 2021-09-21 Exicure Operating Company Multivalent delivery of immune modulators by liposomal spherical nucleic acids for prophylactic or therapeutic applications
US10434064B2 (en) 2014-06-04 2019-10-08 Exicure, Inc. Multivalent delivery of immune modulators by liposomal spherical nucleic acids for prophylactic or therapeutic applications
US11957788B2 (en) 2014-06-04 2024-04-16 Exicure Operating Company Multivalent delivery of immune modulators by liposomal spherical nucleic acids for prophylactic or therapeutic applications
US10208310B2 (en) 2014-10-06 2019-02-19 Exicure, Inc. Anti-TNF compounds
US10760080B2 (en) 2014-10-06 2020-09-01 Exicure, Inc. Anti-TNF compounds
WO2017193087A1 (en) * 2016-05-06 2017-11-09 Exicure, Inc. Liposomal spherical nucleic acid (sna) constructs prsenting antisense oligonucleotides(aso) for specific knockdown of interleukin 17 receptor mrna
EP3452598A4 (en) * 2016-05-06 2020-04-29 Exicure, Inc. Liposomal spherical nucleic acid (sna) constructs presenting antisense oligonucleotides (aso) for specific knockdown of interleukin 17 receptor mrna
US11866700B2 (en) 2016-05-06 2024-01-09 Exicure Operating Company Liposomal spherical nucleic acid (SNA) constructs presenting antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) for specific knockdown of interleukin 17 receptor mRNA
US11364304B2 (en) 2016-08-25 2022-06-21 Northwestern University Crosslinked micellar spherical nucleic acids
US11696954B2 (en) 2017-04-28 2023-07-11 Exicure Operating Company Synthesis of spherical nucleic acids using lipophilic moieties
WO2018201090A1 (en) * 2017-04-28 2018-11-01 Exicure, Inc. Synthesis of spherical nucleic acids using lipophilic moieties
US11433131B2 (en) 2017-05-11 2022-09-06 Northwestern University Adoptive cell therapy using spherical nucleic acids (SNAs)
EP3728601A4 (en) * 2018-01-17 2021-03-17 Augmanity Nano Ltd A set of anti-pathogenic nucleic acids, compositions and uses thereof
US20210002640A1 (en) * 2018-02-28 2021-01-07 Exicure, Inc. Liposomal spherical nucleic acid (sna) constructs for survival of motor neuron (sma) inhibitors
WO2021046254A1 (en) * 2019-09-04 2021-03-11 Exicure, Inc. Liposomal spherical nucleic acid (sna) constructs for splice modulation
US20210123057A1 (en) * 2019-10-29 2021-04-29 Northwestern University Sequence Multiplicity Within Spherical Nucleic Acids

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2016115320A8 (en) 2016-09-29
AU2016206658A1 (en) 2017-08-03
US10704043B2 (en) 2020-07-07
CN108064295A (en) 2018-05-22
US20200339989A1 (en) 2020-10-29
KR20170104550A (en) 2017-09-15
US20180327741A1 (en) 2018-11-15
JP2018503377A (en) 2018-02-08
CA2973702A1 (en) 2016-07-21
EP3247796A1 (en) 2017-11-29
EP3247796A4 (en) 2018-07-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20200339989A1 (en) Nucleic acid nanostructures with core motifs
JP6453275B2 (en) Asymmetric interfering RNA compositions and uses thereof
KR102534909B1 (en) MODIFIED RNAi AGENTS
JP2017140030A (en) UNA oligomers and amidites for therapeutic agents
JP2014097072A5 (en)
JP5906508B2 (en) Double-stranded lipid-modified RNA with high RNA interference effect
JP2011528910A5 (en)
KR20180086260A (en) SIRNA structure for high active and reduced off-target
JP2022506503A (en) Modified double chain oligonucleotide
JP2022509809A (en) Nucleic acid for inhibiting C3 expression in cells
JP2023010836A (en) Endosomal-cleavable linkers
US8598138B2 (en) Amphiphilic nucleotide cochleate compositions and methods of using the same
Grünweller et al. Chemical modification of nucleic acids as a key technology for the development of RNA-based therapeutics
KR20230134509A (en) Modified double-stranded oligonucleotides
JP7241098B2 (en) Anti-fibrosis agent
JP2023533124A (en) Double-stranded oligonucleotides and compositions for treating coronavirus infection-19 (COVID-19) containing the same
JP7208911B2 (en) Regulation of nucleic acid molecule expression

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 16737865

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2973702

Country of ref document: CA

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2017537260

Country of ref document: JP

Kind code of ref document: A

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 15543728

Country of ref document: US

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2016206658

Country of ref document: AU

Date of ref document: 20160114

Kind code of ref document: A

REEP Request for entry into the european phase

Ref document number: 2016737865

Country of ref document: EP

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 20177022221

Country of ref document: KR

Kind code of ref document: A